Interim Chancellor Sandra Haynes responded to my questions this week concerning the process for the forthcoming budget cuts on our campus. She told me that she plans to send out a letter about the plan, possibly today, but said that I could post comments she made in our email exchange in the CFR Blog. Please, read on . . .
She reported the 5% cut––already part of the 1, 3, and 5% budget exercise that we did in the spring––would be taken for almost all units. To reach the target of 9.8%, however, additional cuts had to be taken, mostly from administrative units. She also said that the Budget Council––which, for those of you who are not familiar with this group, is comprised of the Chancellor, VCAA, and VC for Finance, Operations, and Enrollment––looked at spending patterns over the last three years and made changes to departmental budgets based on that data. The Budget Council also shifted costs from core to non-core budgets in the departments.
It is important to point out that she said that “the primary focus for additional cuts was on administrative units in order to reach the 9.8% cut.” I am not sure what this entails yet; perhaps her email message will address the outcome.
Haynes plans to submit the plan to the President on or before July 11th with expectations for approval by August 7th.