Schools review proposed budget cuts

Each of the University's 12 schools are currently reviewing the administration's proposed budget for fiscal year 1992 to determine if they can operate under the proposed cuts. The University's budget proposal calls for a seven-tenths percent cut in budget increases to all schools, in addition to cuts in five programs from the Provost's Subvention Fund, an account through which the provost pays for long-range academic projects. As part of the review, school officials will meet with University administrators to determine how or if each school can trim money from its budget. After determining which schools may have problems cutting costs, administrators will decide if they can use money from the Provost's Subvention Fund or if money could come from other sources. "Once we know the individual problems within the schools, we can determine what degree of flexibility with University funds we have [to assist them]," Budget Director Stephen Golding said yesterday. Senior Vice President Marna Whittington said yesterday she expects few major problems because schools officials participated in planning the budget. Deans of the schools said after the budget announcement the proposals were fair. Most problems with the budget were ironed out during budget discussions, where school officials told planners if they could not meet the administration's target figures. John Gould, executive director of the president's office, said discussion with the schools had been "statesmanlike," with schools arguing on others' behalf when they felt one school would be too harshly affected by a budget proposal. The budget package calls for a $6.7 million deficit due to a proposed $18.6 million cut in the University's state appropriation, as well as the elimination of 300 staff and faculty positions, a four percent cut in the growth of the administration and a moratorium on all but three construction projects.

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