President Elson S. Floyd and Provost and Executive Vice President Warwick M. Bayly were informed of a request from the Washington Senate for alternate budget reduction scenarios on Wednesday – one reflecting the 12 percent budget reduction called for in Gov. Chris Gregoire’s budget proposal and another reflecting a cut of 18 percent.
Floyd and Bayly issued a memo Thursday to university deans, vice presidents and chancellors asking them to prepare, in addition to the 12 percent budget reduction scenario already requested, a preliminary plan calling for a 20 percent budget cut within their areas.
They have asked for those plans to be prepared and submitted to the budget office by Jan. 30.
Floyd has been in contact with other university presidents regarding this request. He will meet with Senate leadership as soon as possible to obtain more information on it.
The president stressed that the Senate’s request for information is just one step in the ongoing legislative budget process. The university is committed to providing the information necessary to state leaders in making budget decisions. At the same time, WSU leaders will continue to advocate strongly for adequate higher education funding to help drive the state’s economic turnaround.
The university has taken several immediate steps to continue to curtail costs. Along with its ongoing hiring freeze and travel restrictions, the university has mandated that all internal communications be converted to electronic formats to cut costs and save resources. The university is examining its lighting, both exterior and interior, to see where energy costs might be reduced. The president has also indicated that salaries of $100,000 and higher will be frozen.
These are only initial steps. University leadership is continuing to explore ways to achieve immediate cost savings in light of the current budget situation.