Budget Update, May 23, 2011
To The UNCG Community:
The North Carolina state budget process is well underway and the ongoing negotiations taking place in Raleigh will have a significant impact on UNCG and the entire UNC System. In an effort to keep you informed during the summer months and beyond, we have launched a new comprehensive version of UNCG's Budget Central website. Over the next few weeks, I hope you will use this website to read updates pertaining to the state budget and how it will affect UNCG.
The N.C. House of Representatives on May 4 voted to pass its state budget for FY 2011-13. The permanent net cuts included in the House budget, totaling nearly $30 million for UNCG (17.7 percent), would result in long-term damage to our academic programs and dramatically impact the supporting infrastructure of our campus. The Senate will now have the opportunity to review the House proposal and develop its own version. On May 10, the Senate Appropriations Committee on Education/Higher Education released its 2011-2013 budget targets for Public Schools, Community Colleges and the UNC System. With these targets, the UNC system would be cut 12.47 percent and would fare better than the 17.7 percent cut in the House Budget.
Having set their targets, the Senate Appropriations Committee on Education/Higher Education is expected to reveal their proposed budget on Tuesday, May 24. Once passed, the proposed Senate education budget will be included with the rest of the subcommittee budgets and sent to the Senate Appropriations Committee. When passed by the Senate Appropriations Committee, the budget will move to the Senate floor. Once the Senate approves the budget, the House and Senate will go into conference committee to reconcile differences between their two proposed budgets before sending it to the Governor for her approval or veto. It is expected that the budget will be sent to the Governor in mid-June.
This is going to be a very challenging budget cycle for our institution and I will continue to provide timely updates as the process moves forward in Raleigh. While I cannot predict the outcome of the budget, I can promise that I will do all I can to keep you informed and up to date on the latest developments. Once the budget process has concluded, our budgetary decisions will be based on the University's budget principles in an effort to ensure we remain a strong, vibrant university, committed to serving our students and the community in which we live.
Thank you for all that you do for UNCG.
Sincerely,
Linda P. Brady
