Romney reduces UMass system funding by $6.2m

Lombardi vows immediate steps

by Daniel J. Fitzgibbons, Chronicle staff

aking aim at a projected $650 million shortfall in this year's state budget, Gov. Mitt Romney used his expanded budget authority last week to reduce spending by $343 million, including $6.2 million from the University system.

     With the Amherst campus slated to absorb about half of the cutback, Chancellor John V. Lombardi said the administration would move "immediately to meet our obligations" while maintaining core teaching, research, outreach and other service programs and insuring the health and safety of the campus community.

     "Because this action comes with only five months left in the fiscal year, we will first look to one-time readjustments to meet our requirements," he said. "However, we will also incorporate this budget reduction into our FY04 budget planning that is underway and that will continue as we learn more about the status of the FY04 budget."

     Lombardi said the campus would look first to central commitments that can be safely deferred and then identify other expenses that can be eliminated for this year. "Once we have completed that exercise, we will allocate the remaining shortfall to each vice chancellor's area, and they in turn will allocate the one-time reductions to the appropriate units. The units will immediately submit plans to meet these one-time expenditure reductions for approval."

     Lombardi said a temporary hiring freeze for positions funded out of this year's state budget would also be put into place immediately. "As we succeed in meeting our requirements, we may be able to relax the hiring freeze for essential positions," he added.

     "The state portion of the University's total budget is approximately 37 percent, and while it is very difficult to reduce that portion this late in the budget year, we are confident that we will be able to maintain the University's high quality teaching, research, and service programs," said Lombardi.

     "While no one can contemplate the circumstances of the Commonwealth's finances with tranquility, we also know that these reductions have a serious impact throughout the state on everyone dependent on tax revenue for services and support. We will do our share carefully and effectively, preserving the essential strength of our campus. As the precise nature of these reductions become clear, we will provide the campus with an outline of the impact of the required reductions on our programs and services," he added.

     Meanwhile, Romney said he will ask the Legislature to approve another $143 million in savings. His plan calls for boosting the share of health insurance costs paid by state employees from 15 percent to 25 percent.