Budget cuts increase further
The fiscal year for 2010 starts July 1, which will affect upcoming Fall 2009 and Spring 2010 semesters.
Budget cuts
The cuts were issued from the Governor’s office because state revenues were lower than expected.
A cut in the budget appears to be a cut in service, but GCSU Director of Media Relations, Bryan Jackson, assures this won’t be the case.
“(GCSU’S) primary objective is making sure nothing academic is affected and its service to students (doesn’t decrease),” Jackson said.
Some students feel these cuts came as too little too late.
“I think we should cut back on things we don’t need,” Julia Hallett, freshman, said. “The big screen TVs in every building were a waste. Why do we need three in the library?”
Students mostly agree that efficiency is needed rather than more fees.
New GCSU fees
Cuts in budget can also mean an increase in fees.
Two new fees have been proposed: a temporary wellness fee and the Green Fee. The temporary wellness fee will be used to fund the new wellness and recreation center at West Campus. The Green Fee is planned to fund the campus green initiative and energy sustainability programs. However, both of these fees are still pending approval at the Board of Regents.
GCSU Chief Budget Officer, Susan Allen, said that these fees are in the students’ best interest.
“The proposed new fees are for the benefit of the students and were approved for submission to the Regents by a fee committee that includes a majority of student representation,” Allen said. “Student fees are a way to deliver programs that the student body desires, but that the university would not otherwise be able to afford.”
Some students think these fees are helpful for the campus and its students.
“The Green fee is good as long as we don’t spend more than we’re going to get out of it,” Mark Merrit, sophomore, said.
However, there are students who feel more fees during these economic troubles will not be beneficial to the students.
“I don’t want miscellaneous fees with the economy the way it is,” Thomas Kuebler, junior, said.
Board of Regents
These budget cuts also bring in the notion of a hefty fee coming down from the Board of Regents itself. The Board implemented a $100 fee in the beginning of this spring semester to recover funds from falling state revenues.
University Systems of Georgia Associate Vice Chancellor for Media and Publications John Millsaps, said that the fee implemented this spring semester was a “special circumstance.”
The possibility for another fee to come down from the Board of Regents is uncertain.
“(The Board of Regents) can’t begin to think (about fees) until we see the budget in April,” Millsaps said. “We need to see a dollar amount before we can give (any information).”
Students feel burdened by college’s hefty price tag already without the fees.
“I’m already paying a hell of a lot for college,” Hallet said. “I don’t think I need to pay any more.”
Posted by Colonnade Archives
on Apr 3 2009. Filed under News.
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