Ohio University's Budget Planning Council met Friday to discuss ways departments can cut costs, preparing for a large state-funding cut that will likely exceed the initial $15-million estimate OU provided in September.
Although Gov. John Kasich is not due to release his biennial budget until March 15, OU departments are preparing scenarios expecting a 10-percent cut to their base budgets. A projected $8-billion shortfall in the state's budget could lead to $20 to $25 million being cut from next fiscal year's budget at OU.
Former interim Senior Vice President for Finance and Administration Michael Angelini estimated in September that at least $15 million would be cut from next fiscal year's budget.
The university is continually refining its projections and will continue to do so until the state budget is approved by the legislature
said Katie Quaranta, OU spokeswoman, in an e-mail.
Ohio's legislature must approve a biennial budget by June 30, three months after Kasich submits his March 15 draft; however, the state budget can be finalized before the deadline.
Until then, OU departments and budget planners will continue to prepare for a significant cut.
We've talked about ways to save money without affecting jobs and people on campus ... and how to generate more revenue said Stephen Golding, Vice President for Finance and Administration.
Cost-cutting tactics could include more efficient purchasing of goods and services, further reducing travel costs and limiting the number of vehicles the university has for its use, Golding said.
I think that we can ... still look to identify opportunities to save money or work more efficiently which is something we should be doing on an ongoing basis
Golding said.
Members of the council will meet with university departments in the coming weeks for further discussions; however, OU departments will not submit final budget-reduction scenarios until after Kasich submits his budget.
BPC revised its timeline Jan. 14 to provide more time for the (departments) to examine options
for the provost and vice president (for Finance and Administration) to engage in additional university-wide open forums and for OU to better understand what Kasich is thinking about higher education funding
said Ann Fidler, executive associate provost, in an e-mail.
More specific budget reduction targets will be provided to departments Feb. 14, and open forums will take place Feb. 22 and 23, according to the new timeline. It is uncertain whether this timeline is final because additional developments at the state level might make further revisions necessary, Fidler said.
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Pamela Engel
