As we welcome faculty, staff and students back for spring semester 2010, we are beginning to make internal plans to respond to the governor’s call for budget reduction plans of 6, 8, or 10% for each year of the biennium.
The state has requested budget reduction plans for FY 2010, effective March 1, 2010, that are at a pro-rated level based on the support that each institution receives from the general fund. For CSN, this reduction could range from $1.65M to $2.75M.
Our strategy at the beginning of this fiscal year included establishing a reserve should the state realize a revenue shortfall. Our initial budget included a reserve of approximately $1.2M to accommodate this shortfall. Budget cuts will be necessary to meet the balance of any state imposed budget reduction. These reductions will be determined through a participatory process working with faculty, staff, and student leadership.
More difficult to address is the budget picture for FY 2011. State revenue projections are not likely to be realized and the governor’s proposed cuts of 6, 8, or 10% mean a reduction to CSN’s budget of $5.0M to $8.2M.
Again, we will involve faculty, staff and students and focus on protecting our institutional mission as we prepare these budget reduction plans and keep you apprised as new information arises.
Education is the backbone of our society. Too bad our state government does not place more emphasis on it’s importance. CSN is such an important institution in our community. Personally. I am a senior who returned to CSN to get another degree and it concerns me that I may not be able to access myself to the variety of courses that were once available.
I see that CSN will be short in revenue this coming semester. How about we fix that? Hmmm…lets see. Thousands of cars park in the campus of Charleston, Chyenne, and Henderson. Would it kill a student to pay $20 a semester for a parking pass? As well as staff pay the same amount. I think that would help a little to fill in the gaps of the budget cut that the Governor is requesting.
How about adding a $5 library fee to a students tuition to help the library in their budget for printing? Printing is free in the library and a lot of student use that and I think that the library needs more money and that would be an easy way for them to keep up the good work that they are doing.
There are many ways to make money on campus that CSN Administration has not yet seen, and they need to begin opening their eyes. I don’t see any parking meters at CSN like UNLV does?
So grow up CSN Administration and fill in the budget cut that the Governor is requesting.
Kristopher,
Thank you for your suggestions.
I understand your frustration with the budget situation. Your idea to add parking and library fees is not without merit and a group comprised of faculty, staff, administrators and students will explore those concepts along with additional revenue enhancing and expenditure reducing measures.
But any increase in fees must be considered carefully to ensure students are not priced out of an opportunity to receive postsecondary education and the services necessary to succeed. CSN has always prided itself on being an institution of higher learning that anyone in the community could access to improve his or her quality of life. We must be careful to protect access as we move forward to cut costs and raise needed revenue.
Denise,
I share your opinion on the value of education and want to congratulate you on your efforts to obtain another degree. As we move forward to implement any cuts required by the state, we will focus on protecting instruction and that includes trying to assure that needed courses are available and accessible.
Adding additional fees and tacking on costs for facilities that already exist is a quick way to irritate current students that are already paying a lot of money for school, Kristopher. I’m not sure about your situation, but I’m not expecting a raise from my current employer to cover the additional expenses you’ve proposed. What a horrible time to suggest nickel-and-diming our way to get out of the red. Eventually, many students will be all “parking pass’d” out! Also, I’ve got news for you: CSN is not UNLV, and I certainly hope that the Administrators of CSN aspire to reach a higher echelon than that!
The solution to budget issues is not raising costs for students, although it is certainly the most simple-minded. Sometimes it is neccessary to evaluate the “way we do business” and purge the things we already have that we do not need. The bottom line is that the state’s budget issues are affecting us ALL, so the student body should not shoulder that burden alone.
I agree that putting costs on things like parking would iritate some students. and for those like me I barely got in my tuition fee on time because I didnt have enough money till the last week. But the library could be a good place to take start something. students are printing out so many things on more paper than they need which is just wasting it. the school could put a limit and press it as t ohow muc hyou can print. if not that the libray could recycle that wasted paper and not just paper but cans and plastic and whatever else. I know that recycling cannot bring in at all enough money but it can be a small step along wit hother small steps taht can help.
I think cuts that CSN needs at school campus: High salaries that doesn’t show up the need for like psychologist, Some services must be cut. The school is so unorganized. Some people overworked and some only sit at the desk. About fees in parking is a no go. Students have difficult finding jobs and the school will become a must not go. Some school are availablle online. We attend CSN for classes with a teacher. tradicional environment. Free parking and good environment. The school need to look in services and if the student received those services and cut the ones that the student doesn’t use. Where the money go? What is available and what is not available. The school looks dirty and unattended, but the students don’t care as long as is little maintenance. We students have a great school, but the school need to restructure to get better service.