Public Forum on U’s proposed budget for 2010

Editor's note: This brief originally listed an incorrect student speaker in the 7th paragraph. This error has been corrected.

The Board of Regents held a public forum on the University budget today at McNamara Alumni Center.

Scheduled speakers addressed a panel, which included the Board and President Bruininks, on the President’s recommended annual operating budget for the 2010 fiscal year.

The 15 speakers included University professors, students, clerical workers and the president of the Alumni Association. They were given three minutes to discuss a topic.

President Bruininks’ new budget plan will eliminate 1,240 jobs, and clerical workers fear that they will receive the brunt of the cuts.

The many members of AFSCME who spoke called for cuts from the top and suggested wasteful spending practices that should be cut instead of their jobs.

Phyllis Walker, president of AFSCME Local 3800 said the “decision to lay off front line workers has a negative educational impact and a negative economic impact.”

Bruce Mooty, the President of the University Alumni Association said he believed that budgetary decisions are “going forward in the right direction.”

Paul Buchel of the Minnesota Student Association expressed thanks for the minimal raise in tuition cost, but Krisiti Kremers, the president of the graduate and professional student assembly, said that tuition costs leave graduate students with an amount of debt that is unsustainable.

The Board began reviewing the administration's budget on June 12 and will make final decisions and changes on June 24.