University Administration will absorb $2.1 million in funding cuts in a rare trickle-up effect, should Measure 28 fail on Tuesday.
If Measure 28 fails, the financial cost to the University will total $6.1 million. Students will be slapped with a tuition surcharge of $10 per credit hour in winter and spring terms to make up $4 million of the state cuts. The remaining 34 percent will be covered by temporary reserve funds and by implementing one-time administrative cuts within the University, Senior Vice President and Provost John Moseley said.
The University reserve fund was created through individual departmental efforts to reduce spending last year and by collection of a tuition windfall caused by the record student enrollment in the fall. The reserve fund is limited to one-time use and won’t sustain the University in the future, officials said.
“If Measure 28 fails, by using reserves and the tuition surcharge, we think we can manage through the remainder of this year,” Vice President of Administration Dan Williams said. “Of course, there will be further issues next year, but we feel we could manage through this year.” The proposed cuts to the administration would affect the ability of the University to fill open positions in administrative offices; the ability to hire for new positions would also be hampered. However, according to Moseley, no firings would occur on campus.
“We have made it a top priority to protect classes and education,” Moseley said. “For this year, there are not going to be any classes cut.”
Moseley said he is confident if Measure 28 passes, it would prevent further cuts to University programs and the need for the tuition surcharge.
“If 28 passes, you can also bet there will be smaller tuition increases next year,” he added.
The University has already made more than $7 million dollars in cuts to its operating budget this year. The cuts were made during the first four special sessions of the Oregon Legislative Assembly. Measure 28 was created during the fifth special session as a means to prevent a further $313 million in statewide cuts.
University administrators have attempted to focus proposed cuts away from student programs and academic services.
“Our driving objective is to not reduce student access to the academic curriculum and to the faculty,” Vice President for Student Affairs Anne Leavitt said.
Measure 28 would create a temporary tax increase, effective for the next three years. The average taxpayer would pay an additional $114 in yearly income taxes if the measure passes.
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