FHSU Budget Bulletin

April 30, 2009

With Mark Parkinson newly sworn in as governor, the Kansas Legislature reconvened yesterday in Topeka to begin building a final budget for the new fiscal year that begins July 1.
Because of the recent report by the Consensus Revenue Estimating Group that projects a greater shortfall than had earlier been anticipated, the House is looking at a revised budget that would cut about 11 percent from the FHSU budget. The Senate is looking at a cut for FHSU of about 10 percent. The budget bill passed earlier in the session would have cut our budget by 7.3 percent.
I believe the reduction of 30 positions that I announced at last week's University Open Forum will be sufficient for these levels of cuts. We would need to cut additional positions only if the final action by the Legislature goes beyond this range of budget reductions.
We're getting close to the end. As soon as I know what our final budget reductions will be, I will let you know.
I appreciate the thoughtful comments many of you continue to post on the Budget Watch, located on the home page of the FHSU Web site. Here are more responses to some of those questions.

Q. Last night it rained, yet this morning they have the sprinklers on. Do you feel this is really saving our school money? I feel it's a waste of water and money. I understand that we want our school to look nice to visitors but shouldn't we only water on days when it's really needed?
A. Good point. We will be vigilant about not overwatering, and we will override the timing systems when appropriate. I would note, though, that some watering may be done even after a light overnight rain. We will follow a watering regimen in which we do as little watering as possible while maintaining healthy vegetation.

Q. Maybe we could have the outside light clocks set so the lights come on at 8:30 p.m. instead of 6 p.m. and shut off at 7:30 a.m. instead of 9:30 a.m.
A. Most of the campus lights are activated by photocells, but some are on timers and we will adjust them for the time change.

Q. I think that there are some cuts that can be made in Sheridan Hall too.
A. There will be. No one is immune. The budget cut proposals that I requested will affect every office on campus.

Q. Why do we need two people to do what was once a job for one? When Dan Heater left his position was filled by two people instead of one and resulted in two supervisor promotions in the grounds department. Surely our money would be better put to use by only having one.
Q. In order to reduce spending there should not be duplication of personal. For example two physical plant directors. It seems to me there use to be only one person in this job, why two? Pick one of the directors and move on. …
A. I appreciate the genuine concern expressed in these two questions, but your math is faulty. We actually reduced the positions from three to two. When Dan was still here, we had his position and the two supervisors; now we have only the two supervisors.

Q. I am concerned with the idea of shutting down the air conditioning in buildings from Thursday p.m. to Monday a.m. I have always understood that the effort to cool down a home more that 5 degrees or so would actually utilize more energy and actually cost more than maintaining the temperature. I would assume the same would be true of our buildings. Has anyone consulted Midwest Energy about cost effectiveness of this plan?
A. Yes, part of our energy audit included consultations with Midwest Energy. Actually, not every building will be handled the same. We have quite a variety of heating and cooling systems with differing specifications for efficiencies. We will generally follow the pattern of reducing energy over the three-day weekends, but each system requires its own procedure.

Q. As a Virtual College student at FHSU, I pay great attention to the current budget situation. What cuts that may happen on campus have the possibility of negatively affecting the distance education community too. I am also employed as a staff member at the University of Florida, in Gainesville, Florida. Today, we were presented with budget cut proposals which could eliminate approximately 360 jobs by July 1. This does not include the open positions which would not be filled. I am very concerned that such a problem exists at both institutions, which are at such a great distance from each other. This has surely become a national problem. Hopefully, we can avoid any drastic cuts which would undermine the value each university has within their respective communities. Without higher education, our prospects of staying the technological leader of the world would diminish greatly. At this time of cuts and layoffs, my thoughts of a better future are with the Fort Hays State University community, as it is also with the University of Florida's.
Q. Will the budget problem be of any concern to the Virtual College students? I did notice more classes being offered online for the fall semester, which is not really a concern, but a good thing.
A. FHSU's Virtual College provides revenue that helps us deal with the ongoing budget crisis, and it is a key part of our growth strategy. While the Virtual College, like all other units, will face some budget reductions, its future is not in jeopardy.

Q. I cannot say that I am too pleased the university is looking to raise tuition, increase parking fees, etc. Why is it the student's responsibility to have to pitch in extra money, which they do not have, just so the university can cover its rear? If everyone would take a step back, then they would see that passing the buck to the student may seem like a short term fix, but there will be financial problems in the long run. This is especially true now that it is becoming harder and harder to get adequate financial aide from the government. …
A. We are considering an increase in tuition, but we are trying to minimize the impact of the budget crisis on students. We will hold tuition under $100 per credit hour, which will continue to be the lowest tuition in the region.

Q. I believe reimbursements for travel should only be for the amount spent per receipts. Put the burden of proof on the person seeking the reimbursement so that it doesn't put added work on the staff.
A. These regulations are set at the state level.

Q. Stop sending out Dr. Hammond's Christmas Cards and Calendars.
A. I am considering the option of converting birthday cards and Christmas cards to an electronic format as part of my budget reductions. My office does not send out calendars.

Q. I don't know what previous suggestions may have been made, but I thought I would put this forward as an idea. This past fall, at home, I finally implemented a change in my routine as regarding electrical appliances of all types. At night and during the day when I am at work, I now disconnect (by using a power strip with an off switch) these things … It struck me, in looking around my office and department, how many electrical appliances and devices like this we have here which continue to draw power 24/7.
A. This is a good suggestion. We need to reduce the use of electricity on campus, and we encourage everyone to shut off equipment when it does not need to be running, especially over the three-day weekends.

Q. You've mentioned increasing the temperatures in buildings over the summer to save on air conditioning costs. I would suggest lowering the temperatures to save over the winter months. My building's temperature is set at 75 degrees in the winter and is typically even hotter in the afternoon. This is significantly higher than at my own house and I actually find 75 to be uncomfortably hot. I would think that 70, 72 or even 68 degrees would be acceptable in most building in the winter months.
A. We will evaluate heating practices prior to next winter so that we can make changes for efficiency.

Q. In the Budget Bulletin of March 26, President Hammond made no mention of how federal stimulus money might be used to help ease the extent of the cuts that FHSU is likely facing. What plans are being put into place for stimulus funds to be used at FHSU? How much do these funds total for FHSU?
A. We are awaiting the answers to these questions, but it appears now that whatever stimulus money we receive will be restricted to maintenance and repairs.

Q. Just a thought, it is a little drastic. FHSU could go to a four-day workweek all year round. If we save so much from closing the campus on Fridays during the summer, imagine what we could save all year. People would get used to working 10 hours days.
A. We will never go to a four-day workweek during the fall and spring semesters because it would be detrimental to on-campus growth.

Q. Is there some way to get some of the many FHSU employees way over the retirement age to retire and let the younger employees that really need the money feel safer in their jobs?
A. No, we cannot force people to retire.

Q. Could we look into hosting large concerts in Gross Memorial Coliseum, as had been done in the past? Also marketing the facilities available for rent at FHSU for weddings, etc.
A. Historically, most of those concerts have lost money.