PSU planning forums to discuss latest round of Kansas budget cuts

Local News

Discussion

November 26, 2009

Anonymous The Joplin Globe Thu Nov 26, 2009, 08:53 PM CST

By Andy Ostmeyer

aostmeyer@joplinglobe.com

PITTSBURG, Kan. — Pittsburg State University President Steve Scott will convene two forums next week on campus to discuss the latest budget cuts for higher education.

Gov. Mark Parkinson this week announced $259 million worth of statewide cuts aimed at trying to balance the budget in light of declining revenues. Those cuts included at least $2 million for higher education.

Scott said Wednesday that he won’t have specific details on the impact of the cuts on PSU until next week.

The forums will be held Thursday, Dec. 3. They are scheduled for 10:30 a.m. in Room 107 of Grubbs Hall and for 3:30 p.m. in Room 409 of Russ Hall. Each is expected to last about an hour, according to Ron Womble, PSU spokesman.

This is only the latest in a series of cuts to university funding.

PSU’s total general use budget for fiscal 2009, which ended in June, was $63.6 million. Of that, the state contribution originally was budgeted at $38.9 million, according to figures provided by PSU. Tuition contributed $24.7 million.

The first cut for PSU came in the spring, when the university absorbed a $1.6 million cut in its $38.9 million allocation.

According to Womble, for the current fiscal 2010, the state general fund budget for PSU was reduced to $34.8 million. That was a cut of $4.1 million from the 2009 allocation level. In July, the allocation was reduced by $673,933.

“The governor has treated us as good as he could treat us,” Scott said, “but the fact is, the revenues have not been there.”

Scott, in a statement, also said that Pittsburg State “has already taken aggressive steps to absorb the cuts, including slashing operating budgets, leaving positions unfilled, delaying the purchase of software and equipment, reducing travel and working across the campus to reduce energy costs.”

According to Womble, the university has reduced its salary and wage budgets by $1.2 million. There have not been any layoffs, but some positions remain unfilled or have been restructured. So far, 28 positions have been affected. The university also has reduced its operating budgets by $900,000, added tuition revenue of $1.5 million and used $1.4 million in one-time reserves.

Stimulus money also has helped cushion the blow. For the current fiscal year, PSU had $2.8 million in federal stimulus money available. Of that, nearly $2 million was earmarked for capital projects, including deferred maintenance at Kelce, Yates and Grubbs Halls. The university was allowed to use $793,196 of those funds for operations.

The university used $167,322 to cover a federally mandated increase in student wages, $375,000 for student tuition relief, and 250,874 for academic instructional equipment.

Andy Ostmeyer is the metro editor for The Joplin Globe. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

More on the way?

Gov. Mark Parkinson said Kansas is in historic times, never before seeing two consecutive years of revenue declines, let alone the four-year trough it faces now. Legislative budget analysts said Monday that even with the latest round of cuts, Kansas already is looking at a 2011 budget hole of as much as $400 million.

Source: The Associated Press

Text Only

Local News

Board places $62 million bond issue on April ballot
In a special session Monday morning, the Joplin Board of Education unanimously approved for the ballot what likely is the largest bond issue proposal in the history of the school district.

February 6, 2012 1 Photo
Turnout could be low for ‘straw poll’ primary
Local election officials don’t know what to expect in terms of voter turnout for today’s presidential preference primary, several said Monday.

February 6, 2012
Council denies Highview rezoning
Current residents of Highview Avenue, south of 20th Street, won a battle Monday night when the Joplin City Council denied commercial zoning for residential lots on the east side of the street. The war may not be over, though.

February 6, 2012
Two men plead guilty in sex-offense cases
The Jasper County prosecutor’s office obtained convictions Monday in two sex-offense cases through offers for the defendants to enter pleas on reduced charges.

February 6, 2012
Judge sends identity thief to prison
The husband of a woman who was sent to prison last year for putting an imaginary baby up for sale on Craigslist was assessed a prison term himself Monday for trafficking in stolen identities.

February 6, 2012
Carl Junction panel studying dog tethering, barking issues
The Carl Junction Codes and Nuisance Review Committee will meet today to consider possible ordinances for dog retention after a complaint by a resident at the most recent City Council meeting.

February 6, 2012
PSU president gives faculty preview of legislative report
At a forum Monday afternoon on budget-related and legislative issues, Pittsburg State University President Steve Scott gave about 100 faculty and staff members a preview of today’s testimony before the House Education Budget Committee.

February 6, 2012
No objections voiced to tribe’s CID proposal
A couple of questions but no objections were voiced Monday at a public hearing regarding a proposed community improvement district in northwest Newton County.

February 6, 2012
Mike Pound: Grown men soon to be playing baseball, so all is well
Now that the Super Bowl is over (It is over, isn’t it?), I’ve set my sights on Feb. 18. That is the day, according to what I’ve read, when major league baseball pitchers and catchers are due to start reporting for spring training. When spring training is under way, I don’t care what the weather is like around here.

February 6, 2012
SW Mo. man charged with abusing foster kids
A southwest Missouri man has been charged with sexually abusing two of his foster children.

February 6, 2012
More Local News Headlines

Board places $62 million bond issue on April ballot

Local News

Search Results

Discussion

PSU planning forums to discuss latest round of Kansas budget cuts

Six judges in a county in Kansas are using iPads to sign off on search warrants so law enforcement can more quickly draw blood from suspected drunken drivers. Do you think more counties should use this technology?

Site Map

Contact Us