Final NIU share of statewide budget reduction totals about $4.8 million for FY02

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Final NIU share of statewide budget reduction totals about $4.8 million for FY02

by Melanie Magara

Two rounds of statewide budget reductions have resulted in approximately $4.8 million in cutbacks for the current fiscal year at NIU, President John Peters announced last week.

Peters told a University Council audience last Wednesday that the university has completed plans to meet the reductions with most of the cuts covered out of one-time savings, a hiring freeze and delays of major purchases until next fiscal year. The president told faculty and staff that the plan reflects his commitment to the priority list he established in early November of last year. The list includes:

a commitment to minimal disruption of student academic programs.
strong efforts to avoid reductions in faculty and staff salaries.
strong efforts to avoid layoffs or furloughs.

"I'm very pleased with the way the vice presidents adhered to my criteria in working out budget cuts in each of their divisions," Peters said. "More than half of the $4.8 million reduction is being absorbed centrally, and core academic programs have been protected."

"We're in a better position this year than many of our counterparts," Peters said. "At the same time, I want to be clear about our expectations for the coming year: If this reduction is made permanent, we will have to find additional ways of meeting that challenge."

Peters said a mild winter has generated significant savings in utilities, snow removal and overtime pay. Additionally, increased enrollment and money held back in a campus-wide hiring freeze have combined to provide a buffer against more serious budget cutting measures.

Provost Ivan Legg characterized the impact of the midyear recission as having had "some mimimal impact on university operations."

"There have been some reductions in funds for new hires, support for graduate students and equipment purchases such as those needed for smart classrooms," Legg explained. "For the most part, those reductions have been minimal, but we are concerned about next year."

Illinois Gov. George Ryan last November announced two rounds of state budget cuts with implications for public universities totaling $70 million. NIU's share now is estimated at between $4.8 and $4.9 million. University leaders around the state are awaiting word from the governor on whether the cutbacks will be made permanent. The governor's budget address is scheduled for this Wednesday, Feb. 20.