Daniella Tebib
News Editor
President Bob Jackson sent an email on Sept. 9 informing all faculty and staff that the University is being asked to reduce the budget by eight percent, resulting in a $3.5 million cut from the current fiscal year 2020-21 budget.
“State Budget Director John Hicks indicated a General Fund shortfall for fiscal year 2020-21 ranging from $242 to $504 million for the current fiscal year,” Jackson said. “With this announcement, Gov. Andy Beshear asked all state agencies, including public higher education institutions and Murray State University, to begin making preliminary plans for an eight percent reduction in our state appropriations for fiscal year 2020-21.”
Jackson said the cut in state appropriations, lack of new federal stimulus funds and other factors including increased KERS pension costs will have a significant impact on the University and campus community. Jackson also said the University is expecting an increase in unbudgeted expenditures of $1.7 million.
“Since February/March 2020, we have dealt with an extraordinary, unprecedented and unimaginable period in our history,” Jackson said. “This global pandemic will pass, but there will be shared sacrifice and additional challenges regarding our budget and many difficult institutional decisions will be made in the days ahead.”
Vice presidents and other University officials have been instructed by Jackson to begin making plans to address these financial challenges. Jackson said University administration is hopeful that federal stimulus funds will be appropriated to help mitigate this potential reduction.
“As many of you have heard me say numerous times, we are experiencing the most difficult period of our professional careers as we navigate the health, safety and financial impact of COVID-19,” Jackson said. “The global pandemic has taken a great toll on our country, state, colleges and universities, businesses and our economy in general and it has further exposed structural concerns in our system of higher education.”
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