Contact: Joe Farris
The reduction in state agency budgets announced today will have no immediate impact on university operations, President Malcolm Portera said Wednesday [Nov. 14].
"We have planned and budgeted for this decrease in funds throughout the budgeting process for this year," he noted.
The Department of Finance and Administration has announced that approximately 3.35 percent of this year's state appropriations for IHL is being rescinded, but Portera said the fact that Mississippi State already has set aside money for that purpose will make reductions in departmental or unit operating budgets unnecessary at this time.
"I appreciate the patience and understanding of the faculty and staff in adjusting to the reallocations that were put into place as we constructed the budget for the current year in anticipation of this further cut in state funds," he said.
"The difficult decisions that we made during the past year are now allowing us to avoid the pain and disruption that often accompanies a mid-year budget reduction, and I am grateful for the support faculty and staff have given to this approach."
State revenue collections continue to lag well behind projections, and he cautioned the possibility remains for additional budget reductions later in this fiscal year.
"We have made provisions, however, to absorb cuts of up to 5 percent of state appropriations without further impact on current operating budgets," he said.
Despite the state's economic difficulties, he said he remains optimistic.
"It is of course necessary that we continue to closely monitor expenditures and to use our limited resources as effectively as possible, but I am confident that the university is positioned to weather this period of difficulty in good condition."