|
|
While Gov. David Paterson’s Executive Budget has its problems, it appears the governor is moving in a positive direction when it comes to providing funding for most of SUNY.
So far.
The governor has proposed a modest increase to SUNY state-operated campuses in 2009, giving SUNY 10 percent of the revenues from a planned $310 spring tuition hike; SUNY will get 20 percent of the revenues from a $620 annual tuition increase in 2009-10. After being hit with huge budget reductions—to the tune of $148 million in 2008—it was gratifying that the governor left SUNY out of the latest round of cuts.
Factoring in state aid reductions, the University is left with a net operating revenues gain of about $40 million—of which $32.9 million is recurring. The $40 million should be used by SUNY to help replenish the state reductions imposed in 2008.
The governor’s budget is also proposing $75 million in SUNY reserves be used to protect access and fund faculty positions. We believe SUNY should put aside its budget allocation process and distribute the $75 million among campuses so everyone wins and no one loses. Raising tuition and reducing state aid will affect campuses differently, benefiting some and hurting others.
We are pleased by the governor’s intention to fund the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) and the Educational Opportunity Centers (EOC) at 2008-09 levels. We’re also cautiously optimistic about what we’re hearing from the governor concerning higher ed in general.
In his January State of the State address, Paterson said that “the road to economic competitiveness and renewal runs right through our schools.” He proposed the establishment of the New York Higher Education Loan Program, which will provide more than $350 million in affordable loans to students who cannot otherwise afford college tuition.
In December, he told the Long Island Business News that higher education was one area that should be saved from cuts in 2009. He suggested that higher education be used for future economic stimulus—in effect, echoing UUP’s slogan that SUNY is one of New York’s most important economic engines.
Rest assured that I will be only too happy to remind the governor of his words if they do not come to pass.
Still, there are budget battles to be fought. The first is over Paterson’s plan to cut $25 million in funding to SUNY’s teaching hospital trio—Brooklyn HSC, Stony Brook HSC and Upstate Medical University.
These cuts are unacceptable. Combined with proposed Medicaid reductions, the plan would hamper the hospitals in fulfilling their prime objectives: delivering quality patient care, serving patients whether they can pay for the care or not, and to train future health care providers.
We’ll be taking the governor head-on— possibly with legal action—over his legislative proposals to eliminate the 3 percent salary increase for 2009 and a one-week addition to the current payroll lag. Rescinding salary increases is a blatant breach of our contract and we will fight any attempt to do so to the end.
We are also wary of the governor’s proposal to create a Tier V pension benefit for new employees. While this measure—which will end a number of benefits, including allowing employees to retire at 55 and with full benefits at 62—will not impact current members, it will affect future employees.
And Paterson’s plan to merge the New York State Theatre Institute with The Egg is useless; it will only save about $274,000. It would be a huge mistake to make this merger a reality.
We must remember what’s important here: fighting to keep SUNY affordable and able to provide quality programs to students, and ensuring that the University remains a viable engine of economic growth for New York.
UUPers should take this message personally to the governor and legislators over and over again throughout the next few months. Hopefully, you’ll join us for one or more of our outreach trips.
UUP outreach days are set for Feb. 3, Feb. 10 and Feb. 24. NYSUT’s Higher Education Outreach event is set for March 2-3 at The Desmond Hotel & Conference Center in Albany.
Whether you’re faxing letters to the governor, putting up “SUNY is the $olution” signs in your community, or riding the Budget Bus to Albany to participate in a UUP outreach day, please know that your dedication and hard work is appreciated.
We can’t do it without you.