Today Governor Tim Kaine announced sweeping budget cuts in the Commonwealth for the 2009 fiscal year, including a $5.4 million reduction at James Madison University.
JMU had originally been appropriated nearly $84.3 million, and will now work with $78.9 million.
Public universities had previously been asked to prepare five, ten and 15 percent budget reduction plans to submit to the state. According to JMU spokesman Don Egle, today’s announcement is about seven percent.
“We knew, by preparing five, ten and 15 percent, that it could fall anywhere in that window,” said Egle. “We were glad that it was not on the higher end of that range.” But he added, “Seven percent still has a huge impact.”
According to Egle, the budget will be examined over the next few weeks and specifics will be determined, but layoffs are not anticipated.
“We’re in the business of educating students,” said Egle. He stressed that the university personnel are the “number one asset” and officials would want to avoid anything that would affect the teaching environment for students.
“There’s nothing we see right now,” he said, “that leads us to believe people need to be concerned about their positions.”
Construction at JMU will not be affected, because capital construction projects are separate from today’s cuts, which focus on operational expenses.
Where the money will come from is unsure, but according to Egle, changing future tuition is a “topic of conversation.”
According to Kaine, the statewide shortfall tops $2.5 billion and it’s not just institutions of higher learning that are being reduced. All state agencies have been examined and the Virginia State Police, Parole Board, Department of Social Services and Department of Agriculture are just a few others on a long list to experience cuts.
Total reductions announced today total $222 million, with 567 layoffs.
“Since October of last year, the continuing uncertainty and downturn in the national economy has required us to adjust the revenue forecast downward twice, and thus far, we’ve reduced the state budget by over $1.7 billion, not including the reductions we’re making today,” Governor Kaine said in a released statement. “Just like families and businesses, state government is feeling the effects of the national economic crisis. And just like Virginia families and businesses, we’re going to have to reduce our spending to make ends meet.”
Today’s announcement comes in the wake of yesterday’s when Kaine slashed $1.4 million from his own office.
The Governor’s full reduction plan can be found here.
