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Remarks and EssaysE-mail message to the CampusApril 14, 2009 Budget UpdateFaculty and staff,When Gov. Doyle presented his 2009-11 budget proposal to the state Legislature, I pledged to keep the campus community informed about potential budget impacts on faculty, staff and students. Today, I want to bring you up to date on numerous budget decisions and how they will be felt across the UW-Green Bay campus. You may recall that the Governor’s budget plan reduces the amount of state tax and other support for the UW System by $174 million over the two-year budget period. UW-Green Bay’s share of the budget reduction will be $2.6 million in the 2009-10 fiscal year and an additional $1.2 million in 2010-11. As we have discussed with campus governance groups, we will meet these cuts largely by using salary and expense savings and contingency funds for 2008-09 and from the next biennium. The depletion of contingency funds leaves us no reserves to meet potential cuts in the future. As I mentioned in a March 2 message to the campus, I have no intention of trying to sugarcoat these numbers. Difficult decisions must be made, and these decisions will lead to a mixture of encouraging and discouraging news for the campus community. In my judgment, we may face additional cuts and must make decisions today that will enable us to avoid future layoffs, furloughs or other personnel cuts. Now to some news that I know many of you will find disappointing. After consultation with the University’s senior leadership, I have decided to freeze planned 2009-10 unclassified base rate adjustments, as submitted by area units. Departmental general-purpose revenue (GPR) funds earmarked for this purpose will be transferred to the campus contingency fund until we have a clearer understanding of whether future budget cuts will be needed. Furthermore, the suspension of authority to grant discretionary compensation adjustments to non-represented and represented classified employees will continue. This action first was taken in November 2008 due to the worsening condition of the state’s economic outlook and affects all state agencies. The University is taking numerous other actions to conserve funds to meet future budget contingencies. These include: • holding a number of positions open and strategically delaying planned hires to maximize salary savings. • following UW System guidelines limiting out-of-state travel funded by GPR. • covering GPR funding lapses, or one-time budget cuts, through the use of unit-wide and area contingency funds. As the University’s administrative leader, I do not take any of these decisions lightly. However, as I noted previously, there is a strong possibility the budget picture will get worse before it gets better. By acting now, I’m hopeful that we can avoid more draconian moves later. I want to mention some good news items. The modified 2008-09 phased pay plan, which includes a 2% increase effective June 1, remains intact. In addition, planned 2009-10 unclassified staff title changes and career progressions have been approved and will be included in the campus budget request. We will continue to meet with and provide budget updates for area legislators as well as student, faculty and staff governance groups. And I welcome questions or comments about the budget from all members of the campus community. As always, feel free to contact me by phone at 465-2207 or by e-mail at wardd@uwgb.edu. My thanks to all of you for your committed service to UW-Green Bay and the state of Wisconsin. That shared commitment will serve us well as we position our University and state for brighter days ahead. Dave |
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 Office of the Chancellor David A. Cofrin Library, Suite 810 University of Wisconsin-Green Bay 2420 Nicolet Drive Green Bay, WI 54311-7001 Phone: 920-465-2207 Comments to: Chancellor's Web Manager Revised 4/15/09 E-mail: wardd@uwgb.edu Remarks and Essays Chancellor Home UW-Green Bay Home |
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