A recent report from Emporia State University President Allison Garrett revealed some major concerns for higher ed funding potentially coming over the next year.
During her report to Emporia City Commissioners Wednesday, Garrett explained the university may be facing a severe budget cut in the coming year as directed by the state. According to Garrett, the state is asking the university to look at cutting 10 percent of its budget that on top of previous cuts from the prior year could result in a 13 percent overall cut.
According to Garrett this essentially would mean the university would be making ten years worth of budget cuts in the span of one. Garrett says the request is frustrating especially when you consider that the university has continuously boasted record numbers in retention and graduation rates over the past three years.
City Commissioner Becky Smith says she does not want to see the university have to make cuts of any kind, however, budget-cutting is now somewhat of a norm in 2020.
On top of the requested cut, the university also had $825,000 pulled out of its general operating budget this year due to receiving one-time COVID-19 relief funding. At this time, Garrett says it is unclear whether or not that money will return to the university’s budget.
Thankfully, with state revenues coming in higher than projections in recent months, Garrett says she is hopeful the state may reconsider the request in the coming year.
In other business, City Manager Mark McAnarney presented commissioners with three park improvement projects “ready to go” at this time. Those projects will include work at Fremont Park, Eastside Memorial Park and the Emporia All Veterans Memorial.
The work at Fremont will see the installation of a new playground at a cost of approximately $100,000. For Eastside plans are to add equipment to the existing playground area with $32,000 still needing to be raised before work can commence.
Work at the All Veterans Memorial will see the completion of a circle walkway to provide additional space for more tablets in the coming years. The cost for that work is around $130,000.
A portion of the project costs will be offset by a $500,000 drawdown from the Lake Kahola fund approved earlier this year by commissioners. Commissioners are set to finalize these plans during their upcoming action session next week.
Separately Wednesday, commissioners discussed the city’s snow policy and edge lighting at the Emporia Municipal Airport.
The Emporia City Commission will reconvene next Wednesday for an action session inside the Municipal Courtroom at White Auditorium.
