Budget approval for the 2009-2010 school year
Ellen Cormier
Issue date: 5/14/09 Section: News
The Board of Trustees recently approved an operating budget of $190.5 million and a capital budget of $25.9 million for the 2009-2010 academic year. This represents a budget reduction of $10.4 million from the projected $30 million in reductions outlined in President Christ's April 13 plan. Nonetheless, President Christ stated in a May 4 email that "at this point, it seems highly likely that at least $20 million of the proposed reductions will be inevitable and will need to be in effect by July 1, 2011."
Next year's budget involves a salary freeze for all administrators, staff and faculty, as well as the elimination and reduction of some positions. According to President Christ's email, employees who earn less than $75,000 could receive "a modest salary increase" for the 2010-2011 school year if the board approves this measure as a part of next year's budget.
According to President Christ, the decisions to reduce and eliminate positions were "the most difficult areas of [the] planning." In her email, the president announced that the board voted to approve "an enhanced service program" - 60 days' notice and a minimum of 10 weeks of severance pay in addition to "supplemental payments linked to length of service" - for those whose positions are eliminated.
In her email, President Christ explained, "Although many of the reductions will not take effect until later in 2009 or 2010, we plan to notify all affected employees by early June 2009 so as to offer as much time possible for them to find new positions, whether at Smith or elsewhere."
Another noticeable component of the budget is the consolidation of Smith's Public Safety with those of Hampshire College and Mount Holyoke. Although President Christ had written that this decision was still under consideration, Vice President of Finance and Administration Ruth Constantine announced last Friday that the consolidation would go into effect on July 1.
"Unifying the forces will significantly expand the number of personnel able to respond to an emergency on any of the campuses while eliminating duplication of services among campuses, thereby offering a cost savings," Constantine wrote.
Next year's budget involves a salary freeze for all administrators, staff and faculty, as well as the elimination and reduction of some positions. According to President Christ's email, employees who earn less than $75,000 could receive "a modest salary increase" for the 2010-2011 school year if the board approves this measure as a part of next year's budget.
According to President Christ, the decisions to reduce and eliminate positions were "the most difficult areas of [the] planning." In her email, the president announced that the board voted to approve "an enhanced service program" - 60 days' notice and a minimum of 10 weeks of severance pay in addition to "supplemental payments linked to length of service" - for those whose positions are eliminated.
In her email, President Christ explained, "Although many of the reductions will not take effect until later in 2009 or 2010, we plan to notify all affected employees by early June 2009 so as to offer as much time possible for them to find new positions, whether at Smith or elsewhere."
Another noticeable component of the budget is the consolidation of Smith's Public Safety with those of Hampshire College and Mount Holyoke. Although President Christ had written that this decision was still under consideration, Vice President of Finance and Administration Ruth Constantine announced last Friday that the consolidation would go into effect on July 1.
"Unifying the forces will significantly expand the number of personnel able to respond to an emergency on any of the campuses while eliminating duplication of services among campuses, thereby offering a cost savings," Constantine wrote.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
gogojojo
posted 5/14/09 @ 10:19 AM EST
Is the budget public record? If so where can we find it?
-Jocelyn '08
alexhaffey
Essay Writing
posted 7/20/09 @ 9:05 AM EST
"Unifying the forces will significantly expand the number of personnel able to respond to an emergency on any of the campuses while eliminating duplication of services among campuses, thereby offering a cost savings," that's really interesting!
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