Gov. Granholm's Budget Released

Grand Valley will protect classes, quality and its employees while dealing with the largest cut ever proposed for higher education in the state's history.

Gov. Jennifer Granholm's budget proposal is recommending an additional 6.5 percent cut for higher education. That cut would be on top of the 3.5 percent cut the state's public universities have already had to pull from their budgets since December.

In fiscal year 2003, Grand Valley's state appropriation was $60 million. This overall 10 percent cut would slash Grand Valley's fiscal year 2004 budget by $6 million, leaving the university with $54 million from the state.

Grand Valley President Mark A. Murray wrote in an e-mail to students, 'You have my commitment that our budget plan will seek first and foremost to protect class schedules, the availability of course offerings, and student services.'

And Murray stated in an interview on WGVU radio, there would not be widespread layoffs.

Murray and Vice President for University Relations Matt McLogan both say this will be a challenge for a university already recognized by the auditor general of the state as being the thinnest in administrative ranks.

'This is the largest proposed cut in the history of the state. The president and executive officers have certainly been aware that the state's budget problems would mean cuts and we're working on plans to balance next year's budget,' said McLogan.

Granholm released her recommendation March 6 and it now goes to the state legislature for review. The legislature could be finished deliberating in June, but it may be as late as early fall before we know the final outcome.