PrintPrint
The most recent General Assembly budget cuts shaved an additional $113 million from the higher education budget, and state colleges and universities are being forced to tighten already cinched belts.
By Chelsea Hadaway
chadaway@scbiznews.com
Published Nov. 13, 2008
The most recent General Assembly budget cuts shaved an additional $113 million from the higher education budget, and state colleges and universities are being forced to tighten already cinched belts.
Already operating on reduced budgets for fiscal 2008-09, colleges have issued a string of decisions that include mandated furloughs and hiring freezes in efforts to cut back on costs.
The USC system, which includes eight campuses, was hit by a 14.9% cut, for a total $36.9 million cut since June.
“Deans and vice presidents are recalibrating their budgets now,” said Margaret Lamb, director of media relations for the system. Decisions are expected to be announced in early December as to what cutbacks will be made.
MUSC saw an 11.9% cut, for a total cut of $16.8 million since the fiscal year began in July.
President Ray Greenberg is bracing for even more cuts, as are other university leaders across the state.
“We don’t really know where the bottom is,” Greenberg said. MUSC leaders are working to put together a comprehensive plan that should be announced later this month.
After taking a $2.7 million budget cut equal to about 14.8% of its budget, The Citadel issued several announcements Sept. 4, and more Oct. 31. They include:
President John Rosa cautioned Citadel leaders in a memo that the budget cuts might not be over.
“Already, there are estimates from usually reliable sources that the state revenue shortfall may exceed the most recent Board of Economic Advisors projections,” Rosa said in the memo.
Trident Technical College in North Charleston has experienced a 14.4% loss so far, equal to about $3 million. It issued a hiring freeze effective Nov. 7 and is deferring planned maintenance to recoup the cuts, said public information director David Hanson.
The College of Charleston took a $4.95 million cut, triggering the issuance of a hiring freeze and reduction of operational budgets. Clemson also issued a hiring freeze and a mandatory furlough of faculty and staff.
The $113 million hit to the general funds for the higher education budget represents a 14.7% cut, said Julie Carullo, director of governmental affairs and special projects at the Commission on Higher Education.
And Carullo is expecting another budget cut to come down the pike, after the Board of Economic Advisors reduced revenue estimates again at its Nov. 7 meeting.
Michael Sponhour, the director of public affairs for the State Budget and Control Board, said the next board meeting is Dec. 11 but said what happens next is up to the political leadership.
Reach Chelsea Hadaway at 843-849-3142.
Print