Dear CSN Family,
I have much news to share with you this evening regarding the state budget, NSHE’s plans, and how that will affect our employees.
Gov. Steve Sisolak issued a memo outlining what is expected to be a significant budget shortfall for fiscal year 2021. This year’s state general fund is expected to be down $900 million and, when combined with the distributed school account, the revenue shortfall is estimated to increase to $1.3 billion in fiscal year 2021 — nearly 30 percent of the entire state operating appropriations for the year.
The governor outlined several measures in the memo and in a video that the state will take to deal with the shortfall, with the goal to limit the number of layoffs. “I am also proposing one furlough day a month for all state employees beginning in July, and a freeze on merit salary increases for Fiscal Year 2021,” the governor’s memo states. The governor’s plan will cover classified employees; Regents already approved furloughs for faculty and professional staff.
In addition, in response to a request from the governor, the NSHE Board of Regents today approved another 5 percent in budget cuts for the upcoming fiscal year that will be added to 14 percent cuts already approved. The new 5 percent cut will come from NSHE market fluctuation account.
You will recall that the Board in April approved a temporary student fee surcharge, reductions in travel, a hiring freeze and several other measures for fiscal year 2021. We hope the plan we outlined in April, in addition to the addition 5 percent cuts approved today, will be sufficient. However, we cannot predict the outcome of the upcoming special legislative session.
I can assure you that our budget reduction task force is working diligently to identify cost saving measures. I encourage you to engage in our next Town Hall session where we plan to provide you with more details.
Stay safe and God bless.
Federico Zaragoza
President
College of Southern Nevada