A second town hall meeting to discuss ongoing budgetary issues drew several hundred staff, faculty and students Monday.
“The issues in front of us are difficult ones; ones that involve people’s jobs and lives,” says Western President Paul Davenport. “I’d like to pull a rabbit out of my hat and make it all disappear, but I can’t.”
Davenport added that while there is “a new card in deck”, referring to $150 million in infrastructure spending announced in last week’s provincial budget, the university is still waiting to learn its share – which early estimates have at $6 million.
Mathematics professor Mike Dawes asks a question of administration at Monday’s town hall meeting.
With so many things still up in the air, Vice-President (Resources & Operations) Gitta Kulczycki says it is difficult to know the total number of layoffs at this point.
She expects the university to have a clearer picture after the end of April.
Provost and Vice-President (Academic) Fred Longstaffe says he hopes to find modest improvements in the reductions that need to be made, but one-time provincial funds will not eliminate layoffs.
“We will take and use this money in the best way possible to try and reduce the impact,” says Longstaffe. “But the problem with these one-time funds is that it doesn’t address the fact that expenses continue to rise higher than revenues. I can’t see, whatever the amount will be, mitigating any of the changes we need to make, including layoffs.”
One suggestion from those in attendance called for borrowing money to avoid layoffs, then addressing the situation next year when the economic situation is clearer.
Davenport stressed the Board of Governor’s policy of keeping a $2.5-million surplus is the right course for the university.
“Are we being overly conservative, I don’t think so,” he says. “We have been aggressive in spending, but there is a limit. We can’t drive up the deficit and leave it for someone else to worry about. I don’t see it being wise management to simply run past that $2.5-million level.”
An expected 2008-09 deficit of $1.1 million lowers the operating reserve to just over $24 million, says Davenport. But over the next two years, running projected deficits of $11.3 million and $10.6 million, will drag the reserve down to its $2.5-million level.
So far, 35 early retirement packages have being approved (20 UWOSA and 15 PMA).
Longstaffe says an opportunity for staff and faculty to contribute to their area of employment – in essence a donation – is expected to be rolled out later this week.
One-time or staggered donations would be returned directly to the particular faculty or department to potentially assist deans and chairs with potential budget cuts.
“I think it would be great if there’s some way to demonstrate a sense of solidarity and get the ball rolling,” says Statistical & Actuarial Sciences professor David Stanford.
Professional and Managerial Association President Hallie McClelland says her members are aware of the situation the university is in and are prepared to get involved.
“Our message is that we are ready and willing to work with the university for a fair solution for all, ” she says. “But all groups must be part of the solution.”
The proposed budget will be brought before Senate in April and the Board of Governors is expected to make a final decision at the end of April.