Eastern Ad‐Hoc Budget Committee
Minutes
February 10, 2009
Connecticut Room, Gelsi‐Young Hall

Attendance: Dave Bachand, Patricia Banach, Karyl Bulmer, Pat Christadore, Dennis Hannon, Drew Hyatt, Kristin Jacobi, Douglas Lussier, David Mariasi, Diane Moore, William Newell, Elsa Nunez, Dimitrios Pachis, Michael Pernal, William Salka

Absent: Grace Enggas, John Sweeney

Meeting commenced at 1:00 – President Nunez

Introduction of members and affiliations

• Each member introduced themselves and stated who they represented.

• The committee was encouraged to discuss the meetings with others in the community
• Focus groups may be created
• A web page will be created to post minutes, notices, and documents to

Budget and Spending Plan Processes – VP Hannon

• A copy of the FY09 Spending Plan, FY10 Tuition & Fee Request Proposal, and the Internal Budget Request Schedule was shared with everyone. VP Hannon discussed the process and schedule of each
• Noted items:
  -40% of our funding comes from the state
  -Eastern received more of the CSU appropriation this FY because of our increase in enrollment, however, this took money away from the other CSU schools whose enrollment did not increase as much and therefore are requesting a freeze in the distribution of the allocation
  -Auxiliary Services supports E&G at all the campuses
  -BOT transfer of $1,163,088 to Eastern good for one more year
  -We’re in our 5th year of a 30 year debt for the residence halls
  -Next parking garage will be paid for by the state – no additional debt service for us
  -FY10 tuition and fee rates can’t be finalized until Governor’s budget is passed
  -Proposed increase for housing rates for FY10 due to adding cable service to rooms and wireless service in lounges
• FY09 Budget Status – VP Hannon & Exec. VP Pernal
  -State allocation reduced by 3%
  -Governor’s freeze on out‐of‐state travel
  • Exceptions are athletic, 3rd party funded trips, & grant funded travel
  -Governor’s freeze on hiring
  • Since May 2008
  • Exceptions are for health & safety reasons
  • Also exempt are part‐time faculty and student services
  • Eastern typically has about 40 vacant non‐faculty positions
  • AAUP has been offering “flippable” 1‐year contracts instead of hiring tenure track positions
  -Governor’s recent mandates
  • Requested a list of our contracts
  • Asked to reduce fleet by 22% ‐ we may be able to take a few pool cars off the road
  -Other points
  • 37 vacancies are not being filled
  • Eastern is looking at state contracts when we need to purchase items
  • Utility rates are not good
  • Housing and enrollment numbers are good
  • If capital items are not maintained, it could cost us more in the long run to replace them
• FY10 Preliminary Budget Planning
  -Begin FY10 Spending Plan process in March
  -10% rescission of state allocation
  -Continuation of hiring and travel freezes
  -Internal Savings Initiatives
  • Review of Contracts – to be discussed at next meeting
  • “Eastern Works Smart” – to be discussed at next meeting
  o Diane suggested making the survey anonymous as she has received some suggestions from people who wanted to remain anonymous
  • Next meeting will be Tuesday, February 24 at 1:00 in the Connecticut Room, Gelsi‐Young Hall
  • Meeting adjourned 3:00 pm – E.Nunez

Respectfully submitted,

Karyl Bulmer, Assistant Bursar for Student Accounts