In the swelling wake of Measure 30’s sweeping failure, government agencies around the state are looking under couch cushions and mattresses for forgotten change and gearing up to make slash-spending plans.
From forensic science departments to kindergarten classrooms to food stamp offices, the budgetary blow is leaving a mark on agencies in every part of the state.
Particularly troubling to the Emerald Editorial Board is the fallout for the state’s higher education: The failure of the embattled ballot measure is triggering some $7.5 million in cutbacks on Oregon’s college campuses, more than one percent of the statewide $544 million worth of cuts. Taking into account scheduled cuts, in fact, the state will now support only 14 percent of the total University budget, University President Dave Frohnmayer said.
While this bodes poorly for medium-term affordability, not to mention the University’s fiscal health, some of the details of where the $7.5 million will come from, exactly, seem to still be up in the air. (Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski intends not to let Measure 30’s failure contribute to tuition hikes this year, Frohnmayer said.)
The Oregon University System proposed cuts to the chancellor’s office, which administrates OUS, during a Tuesday meeting. Notably, in preparation of the possibility of Measure 30’s failure, the state Legislature had identified areas within the University system to be cut; the chancellor’s office was not included in earlier rounds of these budget-cut proposals. Now, those proposals have been adjusted to include cuts to the chancellor’s office.
The Emerald Editorial Board applauds this inquiry. When monetary meanness demands fiscal leanness, every department should look inward and eliminate waste accrued over years of swelling bureaucratic procedures, and the chancellor’s office is no exception. Likewise, other parts of the system’s bureaucracy should be cut before students feel the brunt of economic woes.
This is especially important among departments of all state agencies who aren’t at the “business end” of their respective services.
State Board of Higher Education President Neil Goldschmidt agreed.
“Without (this budget cut adjustment), where we would be left is that the campuses would have to take all of this burden on themselves,” he said.
While OUS didn’t say as of Tuesday what cuts the University would be spared, thanks to this adjustment and others, the fiscal damage to the University in cuts has shrunk to just $881,000, Frohnmayer reported yesterday.
And that’s good news for everyone on this campus.