Employee update from the Chancellor's Office: CSU urges faculty union to bring furlough option to a vote
Note: the following e-mail was sent on 6/10/09 to all faculty and staff.
The Chancellor's Office has asked that we share the information below with all faculty and staff.
-- Robert A. Corrigan, president
CSU leaders consider all options to cope with severe budget cuts
Faced with budget reductions between $400 million and $700 million, the California State University's leaders have been meeting to develop strategies to manage an unprecedented budget crisis. At the conclusion of their most recent session June 3, CSU Chancellor Charles B. Reed said that his goal is to provide an action plan developed in consultation with the presidents and trustees. Reed stressed that no decisions have been made, but the magnitude of the cuts means that all options need to be on the table as no single solution or approach can create the savings the CSU needs. The guiding principle behind the decisions, Reed said, will be "to serve as many students as possible without sacrificing quality and to preserve as many jobs as possible."
There have been no specific decisions made about the actions CSU will take to address the projected $583 million budget deficit for 2009-10. However, in order to ensure that all options are available, the CSU has initiated changes to Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations to modify provisions related to furloughs, salary reductions and unpaid holidays for management, executive and non-represented personnel. The timing of the change was made to meet a 45-day requirement should action be needed at the July 21 CSU Board of Trustees meeting. The Title 5 revisions can be found here: http://www.calstate.edu/title5/index.shtml
Over the past year, the CSU has implemented several cost-savings measures including a salary freeze for vice president/chancellor level positions, a hiring freeze, and travel and purchasing restrictions. In addition, for the first time in its history, the CSU declared systemwide impaction to limit the number of new students entering in fall 2009, due to the state's inability to fully fund enrollment growth and the CSU's operational needs.
The continued deterioration of the state's economy and a looming $24.3 billion state deficit, however, means that more actions will need to be taken in addition to those already implemented. Under the most recent budget proposal by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, the CSU faces reductions in state support between 16 and 20 percent. The Joint Conference Committee on the Budget is expected to vote on the proposed cuts to higher education for 2009-10 in the coming weeks as the state budget makes its way through the legislative process.
For related budget news, visit http://www.sfsu.edu/~news/2009/summer/15.html
