By Michael Watanabe
On-line Forty-Niner

Through proper planning, Cal State Long Beach is prepared to cut $4.4 million, or 2 percent, of its budget as the California State University experiences a $59.6 million reduction.
 
The cuts come as part of Gov. Gray Davis’ mid-year general fund budget reductions; reductions that have led to a 10 percent increase in undergraduate tuition and a 15 percent increase in graduate tuition.
 
CSULB President Robert Maxson had expected the cuts, and had asked each university division to plan for a 5 percent reduction.
 
“We had an idea this would happen, so [each division] developed plans, so there were good plans already,” said Armando Contreras, executive assistant to President Maxson.
 
Doug Robinson, vice president for Student Services, one of five university vice presidents who had to find places to cut, complemented Maxson on his “wonderful planning and insight.”
 
Instead of the 5 percent, the president is now asking CSULB divisions to cut 2 percent from their 2002-2003 budget. The cuts are permanent, meaning these cuts will affect next year’s budget as well.
 
To compensate, the Administration and Finance division has several solutions. First, is the tuition hike, expected to generate $1.5 million for the university, according to a memo from the finance division.
 
Next, about $1 million will be taken from the general base fund, mostly from additional enrollment money, said Robyn Mack, associate vice president of Budget and Human Resources Management.
 
Finally, each division will cut 2 percent of its budget, totaling about $3.4 million. Each division vice president determines which cuts should be made.
 
Robinson decided to cut operating expenses and by employing hiring freezes. Operating expenses include travel, supplies and equipment. He said he implemented a hiring freeze because it is the “most humane, least painful way to do it,” since he didn’t have to lay people off.
 
The finance division decided to postpone equipment purchases and make careful, prudent choices about its hiring practices, Mack said.
 
Director Bill Shumard decided to save the Athletic division money through a small reduction in the operating budget and by leaving several support positions, such as secretaries, vacant.
 
The governor’s office decided which schools would receive the most reductions, according to Clara Potes-Fellow, manager of media relations for the Chancellor’s Office.
 
“The governor decided what line items were to be cut and what budget would be assigned to the campuses,” Potes-Fellow said.
 
Contreras said he understands the CSU system’s need to cut the budget. And, he said he believes the CSU system came out fairly well.
 
“We know the problem is a big problem for the state, and higher education came out relatively well,” Contreras said. “The fee increases are a hardship for some students, but then again, given the magnitude of the problem, everyone will have to share the pain.”
 
Still, Mack said, she is waiting for next year’s budget, where she expects even more reductions.

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