Florida’s rapidly deteriorating economy has blown a $18.5 million hole in FAMU’s budget. After losing nearly $8 million to budget cuts during the 2007-2008 academic year and another $5.6 million this past July as the state’s overall budget was reduced by $5 billion, FAMU's budget picture (along with the State of Florida's) looks bleak.Almost immediately after signing Florida's 2008-2009 state budget, Gov. Charlie Crist began holding back an additional 1% percent of all state agencies' budget allocation each quarter (about $5 million for FAMU, if the trend lasts the entire fiscal year).
Then late last month, FAMU and other state universities learned that they'll lose an additional 1.9% of their budgets because of declining lottery sales (about $2 million for FAMU).
When it rains it pours
If that weren’t bad enough in June, FAMU received a 30-day notice from the City of Tallahassee that it should expect a 22% increase in its utilities (about $4.5 million for the year).
Throw in increased gasoline costs and Tallahassee's painfully high airline costs and the fact that the University has weathered its budget cuts while avoiding laying off full-time positions and you'll clearly recognize that FAMU's budget is extra lean.
Also see: Budget cuts hurt
Budget cuts a threat to quality education
I think that the President is doing a superb job of keeping us afloat during these turbulent times. I am just glad that I still have ajob to come to.
ReplyDeleteWHAT THE HELL IS CRIST PLANNING TO DO WITH ALL THIS MONEY BEING "CUT"? HOW WILL THE STATE OF FLORIDA USE IT?
ReplyDeleteThe university is still hiring administrators at $150,000 - $200,000 annual salaries. Can't be too much of a budget crunch going on. At least 4 ass't professors can get hired at the latter salary.
ReplyDeleteNot all states are doing as bad as Florida. If you don't pay competitive salaries you will not acquire or keep the talent. Here's a tidbit for you: Florida State University is out of money including rainy day funds. Their President has spent everything! Besides that they are losing professors to other states because of low pay and it is hurting the university--this is all fact.
ReplyDeleteAfter what we've been through in the last 9 years, and given the fact that our salaries are atrocious, we have to invest in our infrastructure, which in this case includes administration and instructors. The cost of not doing so is worse than the pay talked about and in some cases exaggerated.
By the way, times are worst than tough. I just layed off 4 people and loss a vacant position besides. By this time next year I will be asked to lay off more and you can expect the Governor to cut another 10%. While we're laying off people I'm forced to hold on to a 7 or 8 million dollar surplus in our budget that he won't let us touch. I hope he is just saving it for the worst, but I won't be surprised if the money is taken away from us and used elsewhere.
It's okay to be critics; it's better though to ask questions first, and give of your talents and money. That's how we'll survive.
Signed, a State manager and FAMU Alum and Booster.
FSU is scrambling to keep the talent and their Alumni Association is INFURIATED with TK Weatherall and his over-spending. Now they can't even pay current professors & grad students decent salaries and guess what... they're leaving the state...but you don't see that in the Democrat!
ReplyDeleteFAMU must maintain what they have and adequately compensate the necessary new talent. There's just no way to improve what needs to be taken care of without it. There are always non-necessities in any University system that can be cut
before you mess with salaries and the like. The important thing is to not compromise the quality of the curriculum and the establishment in order to do so.
The government is going to do what they do. The test is whether or not we can run our business and maintain/enhance the efficacy of our current productivity in spite of current events.
Here's what the do nothing Governor has been doing:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.ocala.com/article/20080811/NEWS/808110334&title=Gov__Crist_listens_as_economy_tanks
3:14.. the money is being CUT, because it is not there to spend. It is not going to be used for ANY thing.
ReplyDeleteThe government doesn't create money, they just take it from one person and give it to another.
The take is down, so the giving must also come down.
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ReplyDelete3:56... 150 to 200 would get you only ONE good business school (key word: "good") asst professor. The salaries these guys are commanding today is amazing.
ReplyDelete"A FAMILY THAT PRAYS TOGETHER, WILL STAY TOGETHER"
ReplyDeleteTHAT'S ALL THE HELP WE NEED...PRAY ABOUT IT AND LET GOD HANDLE THE REST! NO WEAPONS FORMED AGAINST FAMU SHALL PROSPER...THE END:-)
From the Provost's talk today during faculty planning:
ReplyDeleteBad New! Good News!
Bad news! --- Ain't no money!
Good News! -- You still have a job!
^^
ReplyDeleteYeah, Ammons didn't really say anything that we didn't already know.
We did not know that he did not know anything about a program he said he started.
ReplyDeleteBusiness as usual! FAMU spends $$$ on what it wants to spend $$$ on. Always been that way!
ReplyDelete"You people" are a case study in being the biggest complainers. You never gonna be satisfied. Ammons can give all of you 20,000 raises. You will love him for a week, and them hate him again if he don'tlet the A.D. give you a free ticket to a game.
ReplyDeleteA lot of yall don't even half way work if you decide to come, but be waning raises. I bet you keep your solitaire game minimized on the screen. I bet you that there are more MySpace, Facebook, and RattlerRolundUp hits made during the work hour form your work computer than when you get home.
A lot of yall don't publish but want tenure and promotion. I ain't seen nothing like it. Don't half way come to class but want a teacher of the year award. People think that just cause they here they spose to get a raise. There are people complaining about the new administration who been bounced around campus like bad checks that the bank run back through.
Don't but 10% of the people on campus really really work. They the ones that got us off probation. Half of yall did not even know what we were on probation for. Just wanted to make sure you did not lose your job. The talented tenth take care of yall, that's why they make so much.
A lot of yall don't leave Tallahassee but hate on people who do or on those who ain't from FAMU. No, I did not go to FAMU, and thank God. Don't you know that too much inbreeding can make your children retarded. Damn, look a Castell. Straight up special olympian.
A lot of yall don't like FSU but half of you got your degrees from there. Don't like it here but can't leave and don't give me that crap about choosing to stay. You can not go!!! Your behind stay cause ain't nobody else gone pay you to do the nothing that you do at FAMU.
^^
ReplyDeleteDamn, 8:00, why you hatin' so early in the a.m.? Who asked you anything? And why are you on this board trippin'? You sound pretty darn angry at somebody. You must've had a horrific night, to be gettin' up with enough angst to feed a cow. Give up the goods, my friend, and get a life -- a real life. Coming here on a Sunday morning complaining tells me you oughts to be puttin' on your church hat & stockings and headin' for the nearest Baptist door knob. Go get that mirror, girl, and take inventory. Now, tell me I'm wrong.