Trustees cut FAU budget; anticipate more reductions in the fall

Published June 27th, 2008

By Dale M. King
CITY EDITOR

It wasn’t long ago that growth was a major part of life at Florida Atlantic University.

Financial retrenchment has changed that.  The institution has had to cut money – which equated to programs, facilities and staff – to meet state-mandated funding levels.

The university’s Board of Trustees finalized the fiscal 2008-2009 budget at a meeting Wednesday. The BOT adopted an overall spending package of $521,818,000, a 1.7 percent cut from the previous $530,833,000 budget.

The operating budget – the biggest chunk of university dollars – took a 4.3 percent hit, dropping from $260,637,000 last year to $249,374,000 for the coming year.

And trustees warned that more cutbacks could be in the offing.

The budget approved Wednesday eliminates 130 jobs, all but 35 of which are vacant; consolidates some degree programs on specific campuses; increases class sizes and closes some university centers such as the Small Business Development Center.

Freezes on university hiring, purchasing and travel will continue, said FAU President Frank Brogan.

Trustee Chairman Nancy Blosser announced Wednesday that a two-day annual board retreat, which sometimes takes place at area resorts, will be on campus in September to save money.

The university will receive money as a result of a 6 percent tuition hike on resident undergraduate and graduate students, and nonresident undergraduate students. But officials are holding about half of those dollars in a reserve account in case of possible budget cuts in the fall.

Trustees had to cut $9.6 million from the 2008-2008 budget to meet reductions imposed by the state.

The cutbacks are summarized in a 63-page document discussed by the BOT Wednesday.  Among the “negatives” cited were the reduction of staff, faculty and services, elimination of some classes, reduced library time and resources, a cutback in hours for some services and an increase in class size.

The fund offering financial aid to potential students dropped 8. 6 percent.  The athletics budget went up 1.8 percent and the spending plan for concessions also rose slightly, according to budget documents.