FHSU Budget Bulletin

Feb. 13, 2009

In the last Budget Bulletin, issued on Jan. 14, I predicted that the Legislature would enact cuts in the FY09 budget somewhere between 4 percent and 5 percent. The House and Senate approved a bill yesterday that would cut our current budget by 4.25 percent, which translates to a reduction of about $1.6 million. The bill now goes to Gov. Kathleen Sebelius.

As I told you earlier, we have sufficient funds -- originally set aside for action plans --that we will use to cover this $1.6 million rescission. So, there will be no impact on our operations for the remainder of the fiscal year, which ends June 30.

The challenge will come in managing a FY10 budget that will have additional cuts beyond the FY09 cuts. The Legislature now will begin working on the FY10 budget, although no decisions are likely until late April or early May after new economic projections have been issued.

Please continue to post your suggestions and questions on Budget Watch, which can be found on the home page of the FHSU Web site. You have provided many positive suggestions that will be helpful as we develop our budget strategy for FY10.

Also, I invite all of you to another University Open Forum next week in which I will provide a status report on budget activities in Topeka and respond to any questions you may have. The University Open Forum will be at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 18.

In the meantime, here are answers to some of the questions you have posted on the Budget Watch site.

Q. I am from out of town and a happy graduate of FHSU. Yesterday someone who works in higher education (a competing institution) asked if I had heard about the problems FHSU is having that has caused them to have to cut summer college. Apparently, this person said, these problems are related to the FHSU distance China program and money spent there.
A. The truth is exactly the opposite of the rumor you heard. Our partnerships in China are financially beneficial. The budget problems are not unique to FHSU and actually resulted because the Legislature has spent more than it took in for the past two years.

Q. Why not invest in solar power, starting with fixing the solar panels on Rarick Hall?
A. We are looking at both wind and solar. The deciding factor on which ways to go will be careful cost-benefit analyses of the various options.

Q. Is it true that the next cut is going to be Student Health?
A. We have made no final decisions yet on cuts in any services. We are reviewing all services, and Student Health is being studied both for summer and for next year, but no decisions have been made.

Q. There is a lot of talk about how much it will save the university to shut down on Fridays this summer. Is there a dollar amount you can provide of those savings just to give people an idea?
A. The change in the summer schedule to a 4-day workweek could produce savings of $200,000 to $500,000, depending on whether we establish 8-hour, 9-hour or 10-hour days. No decision has been made yet.

Q. I am a student custodian in the residence halls, and there is quite a bit of room for cuts in that department. … I would also look at some of the student jobs and ask yourself how efficient that is?
A. Student work positions also are being considered but no decisions have been made.

Q. Please verify that each department can keep the excess and it will not roll over to the general fund.
A. The answer is a resounding yes. Each department can keep its excess, and it will not roll over into the general fund.

Q. With the upcoming budget cuts, will the Kansas Wetlands Education Center still be able to open? I see that it was scheduled to open in April of this year.
A. The Kansas Wetlands Education Center will open as scheduled this spring. We get additional funds from the state to operate the center, and those funds will be cut the same percentage as other budgets.

Q. I noticed FHSU uses outside employees for parking cars at FHSU basketball, football and other sporting events. Couldn't we use FHSU employees, even if we had to restructure their daytime hours, so we wouldn't be spending overtime?
A. That is an option that will be included in the review of personnel everywhere on campus.

Q. This idea came from the Research Environment Committee meeting this morning. To save costs on travel, to promote being more "green" and to encourage research/development during a budget crunch, the suggestion was to have the motor pool, business office or department administrative assistants post on a common Web site when travel will be happening across campus as a means to share rides to the airport, across the state, etc. In other words, a way to organize carpooling and ride sharing.
A. This is a good suggestion and we're looking at it.

Q. Have you considered eliminating all salary increases?
A. There will be no raises next year at FHSU.

Q. I know that the university is going to a 4-day workweek during the summer. I would like to strongly encourage the administration to allow our classified staff to have the option to work 10-hour days or to volunteer to work 8-hour or 6-hour days.
A. We have not made a decision, but we will consider implementing some sort of volunteer options.

Q. Would it save energy and money if the instructors would turn off lights between classes if the next class period is not being held right after the last one?
A. We would hope everyone is doing that now.

Q. Why not have campus "Adopt-A-Spots" for clubs, groups or even for particular courses? Just as the numerous state highway departments have implemented "Adopt-A-Mile" programs, groups could complete applications through facility maintenance or groundskeeping to adopt a particular spot, flower bed or corner of campus grounds. The sponsoring organization, group, club or class would be responsible for maintaining their little plot of ground with perennials, annuals and maintenance.
A. This is a great example of how we could do more with less. We'll consider it.

Q. Will housing be available to students the summer of 2009?
A. We are eliminating many, but not all, on-campus classes during the summer. Yes, student housing will be available in the summer term.

Q. In a recent article in USA Today, a cost savings item was a look at campus phones. In dormitories, landline telephones were removed from each dorm room in an effort to conserve costs. Additionally, the number of landline telephones in various offices were reduced, utilizing cell phones for staff members that would benefit from a mobile type of communication, be it smart phone or basic cell service.
A. We put landline telephones in residence hall rooms only if requested. We have been conducting a pilot program that provides cell phones to staff members, and so far it has not seemed to be cost effective.

Q. How much is Dr. Hammond cutting out of his budget?
A. My budget and the budgets of staff members who report directly to me will be cut by the same percentage as all other budgets.

I hope to see all of you at the University Open Forum on Feb. 18, 3:30 pm in the Beach/Schmidt Performing Arts Center.