From the President
As you know, in May we were very concerned about budget reductions called for by Governor Paterson in response to New York State’s fiscal situation. After lengthy discussions, a revised SUNY budget was approved by the Division of Budget. While this budget calls for reductions in spending, it is not nearly as drastic as the original scenario.
This coming academic year, Buffalo State will suffer a budget cut of just over $2 million, resulting in an annual budget of $80 million. We will manage this reduction by applying our expected revenue increase of $1.3 million and a utility offset of approximately $800,000 toward the reduction.
Barring further reductions after the November legislative session, the college will not have to take any extreme actions and will be able to fulfill the commitments made during the past academic year. However, the state has asked us to limit our spending and manage it over the course of the year.
Therefore, we are applying a hiring slowdown and will be reviewing hires and expenditures quarterly. This stepped approach allows us to manage the state’s spending caps and also provides a cushion in the event of a mid-year reduction.
For the first quarter, we have released 18 positions as follows:
- One faculty (most other appointments have already been made)
- Four administrators, including two deans
- Eight professional support staff
- One nurse
- One police investigator
- Three support staff
No formal restrictions have been placed on travel or other expenditures; however, we will be more deliberate with approvals.
Obviously, it is prudent to be cautionary in our approach, given New York State’s fiscal climate. We appreciate the support and understanding of everyone. If you have questions or concerns, please contact Stan Kardonsky, vice president for finance and management.
