tl19721006-000 "towerlight Vol. XXVI No. 5 Towson State College October 6, 1972 Towson, Maryland 21204 College funds short: State financial woes prompt budget crisis by George E. Mattingly Towson State College President Dr. James L. Fisher told the Academic Council Monday afternoon that the financial condition of the State of Maryland will necessitate between $250,000 and $500,000 in cuts from the current TSC budget. Fisher also indicated that Towson can expect to receive only about a 1 million dollar increase over current funding for the next fiscal year, while an increase of 1.5 million would be necessary to maintain current operations. After a meeting of the Presidents of Maryland State College System, Dr. Fisher told the council that, ""the Governor and the Lt. Governor will allow us to make the � cuts ourselves, but they are skeptical that we will be able to do so."" Fisher said that unless the community is able to face and make the necessary cuts, someone ""who is less able and less sympathetic will do it for us."" He indicated that the state has informed the Maryland State College System that it must come up with overall cuts amounting to 1.5 million dollars for the current fiscal year. Member colleges feel that they can offer less than that amount, but Fisher feels that the state will require the full amount. Lose money Vice-President of Business and Finance Wayne N. Schelle indicated that under the two plans brought forth at the meeting, Towson would lose between $290,000 and $495,000, but he said he felt that Dr. Fisher was correct in assuming the state would require a full rebate, something that the two plans would not give it. Schelle indicated he felt that Towson will fall between $500,000 and $700,000 short of the amount needed to continue the current level of operations in the 1974 fiscal budget. Schelle stated that he was ""exploring every possible avenue of making up the difference,"" but he did not rule out a fee increase for the coming year. Both Fisher and Schelle indicated that Towson is currently the only institution in the state trying to achieve economies, and both feel the College can reduce expenses and increase the quality of education at the same time. No salary cuts Fisher stated that he would ""stand firmly behind salaries and fringe benefits,"" ruling out any cuts in those areas. Fisher termed the trend towards the state requring the students to make up the difference between state allocations and actual costs to be ""the antithesis of the professed concept of higher education in Maryland."" He stated that he would make ""a very concerted effort to prick the collective conscience of the State of Maryland, consistent with their historic committment to higher education."" Committees formed: The Academic Council Monday heard President James L. Fisher relate fiscal problems in the state that will necessitate an examination of internal college spending. Harris initiates SGA probe to reduce activity fees by Jud Almond SGA President Jesse Harris has decided to inaugurate a task force to determine the feasibility of cutting student activity fees. During the coming week the SGA will be forming three committees: 1. The steering committee will be comprised of the SGA Executive Cabinet, with the exclusion of President Harris. 2. A working investigating committee of eight students and three administrators will examine all facets of the budget. 3. Working sub-committees will be formed by each organization to investigate its own financial efficiency. Harris hopes that the su b -committee recommenda-tions will allow SGA organizations to operate at a 25% reduction in funds this year. This also includes the An accounting of SGA finds President Jesse Harris has inaugurated a task force to cut organizational budgets. A smaller activity fee may be the result. athletic program and the operating expense of the college center. Harris is of the opinion that the affected organizations can operate at the same level of efficiency with less funds by eliminating fiscal ineffiency and unnecessary expenditures. This would mean a savings of approximately $100,000 to the college. The money could be used to cover any deficits uncovered by the current audit that have been carried over froril past administrations or could be held over for use next year. According to Harris, organizations not only have to justify their expenditures, but also their very existence. It is conceivable that one or more organizations could be eliminated completely. Harris hopes that the student activity fee can be reduced next year from $30 to $20. While fees overall may rise due to the economic problems of the college, student activity fees would be less than this year. If the activity fee is reduced, Towson State will become the first college in Maryland to reduce its activity fee of its own accord. The recommendations of the task force will be made public in a report to be published at the completion of the investigations. The results will be presented to the SGA senate for approval, then to President Fisher and the Board of Trustees, who will have the final say on the proposal. Economic task force views internal cuts A President's Task Force on economics will be formed in the near future to investigate internal college spending. According to Wayne Schelle, Vice President of Business and Finance, the task force will analyze the flow of money within the economic structure of the college to determine whether financial cuts or additions are warranted in certain departments. A steering committee consisting of seven faculty, four college vice-presidents, four students and two ex-officio members will lead the task force. Reporting to the steering committee will be two review committees, one for instruction and one for administration. Divisional working committees will report to each review committee. Departmental economics task forces reporting to the working committee, will complete the task force structure. In all, over 200 college members are expected to be involved. Fund raising efforts begun by Diane Shadle The annual fund-raising project for the Towson State Office of Institutional Development is currently in the works. The Office, which locates funds for worthy endeavors such as Asiavan, an art gallery on wheels, bringing lecturers on campus, giving student loans, developing new courses and refurbishing old ones, is now collecting and counting the incoming monies to continue them. Mailings concerning the Margin of Excellence and issues of the Towson News were sent out September 1 to encourage donations. These gifts come from members of businesses, the Baltimore community, alumni, and parents of students. The Office receives the $100 tuition fee each student pays each semester, but according to Vice President Paul Wisdom, ""this isn't nearly enough."" To carry on all their projects the Office needs $7 million. Simple math will prove that a college population of 11,000 paying tuition, even with a small percentage being out-of-state residents, that the total will not be $7 million. The response thus far has been slow but sure. Wisdom says he is hoping for more gifts to arrive. "
