UH plans $30M in budget cuts
The University of Hawaii will cut its operating budget by up to $30.6 million over the next two years.
The Board of Regents this week approved a reduced operating budget of $1.4 billion for 2009-10 and 2010-11 in response to cuts in the state budget.
The UH 10-campus system typically spends about $1.6 billion annually.
UH officials said the cuts won’t require layoffs and are aimed at only minimally affecting university services. They said most of the reductions will be achieved by energy conservation and a freeze on new hires.
The state’s Budget and Finance Department asked the university and all other state departments to submit budgets for three scenarios, which would reduce UH’s general funds budget by either $13.5 million, $22 million or $30.6 million.
Gov. Linda Lingle had asked all state departments to come up with budget proposals in which spending was cut by 10 to 20 percent, and encouraged using alternatives to general funds where possible free credit report instantly. A decline in tax revenue has led to an expected shortfall in the state budget starting next July 1.
“These reductions are occurring in the context of a surge in UH enrollment, up nearly 3,000 students in the last year, to an all-time high of 53,500,” said UH President David McClain in a prepared statement. “Our proposed operating budget reflects the need to sustain our services to this larger population.”
The $30.6 million cut would include a drop of $9 million in actual costs and authorizes the use of up to $21.6 million from tuition and research money to pay operating expenses instead of using money from the general fund.
The budget will go to the governor for approval, and be tied into the state budget to be presented to the Legislature in January.
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