It was the latest University Open Forum in a series that began in fall 2008 after the national economy tanked.

In light of recent media reports about possible legislation, the president said the most recent forum was necessary for FHSU personnel to know how the pending bills would or would not affect them directly.

One legislative proposal calls for a cut in the pay of state employees. "I'm happy to tell you that all the FHSU employees are exempt from the 5 percent cut," Dr. Hammond said. The state of Kansas would lose half-a-billion dollars in federal stimulus money if it cut funding for the Kansas Board of Regents system any further, he explained. The state had a budget of $6 billion in January 2009 and a series of cuts reduced the state budget to $5 billion as of today. Those cuts have reduced state funding of FHSU and the other five state universities to 2006 levels. A trigger in the federal legislation would force the state to forfeit the stimulus money if it reduced support for higher education below 2006 levels.

However, the president said other legislative proposals would affect FHSU if they became law. For example, classified employees who are next in line for raises under a five-year market adjustment plan likely would not receive those raises.

President Hammond said that due to the cuts already implemented and the proposals under consideration in the Legislature, the university might enter the 2011 fiscal year, which begins on July 1, with a shortfall of $2.7 million compared to the beginning 2010 budget. And he said the reality might be even worse. He said experts are expecting the revenue estimates in mid-April to reveal an even bigger problem, which will require further action by the Legislature.

He commended the Student Government Association and the Faculty Senate for sending resolutions to the Hays Area Chamber of Commerce endorsing the "No More Cuts" position of the Regents, and he noted that the Hays Chamber had joined other chambers across the state in publicly demanding no more cuts to higher education and even supporting revenue enhancements if needed.

"We're the fastest growing university in the Regents system," President Hammond said, adding that growth was one of the strategies FHSU had successfully pursued to deal with the reductions in state financial support. "We can't continue to grow and have fewer employees," he said. "We probably need more people."

He questioned an apparent change in the philosophy of legislators. "Up to now we've been told how much to cut and left to decide where to cut," he said. "Now they are considering micromanaging by ordering line-item cuts in our budget. It really destroys any ability for us to effectively manage."

Warning it was not in the best interest of FHSU or the best interest of the people of Kansas to compromise the quality of higher education, he urged everyone at the forum to visit with legislators while they are home during recess. "Anything you can do to help get the message delivered will be appreciated," he said. "I will definitely keep you involved as we move forward."