Tarleton Student Government opens budget dicussion to students
By DANE HARBOUR
Issue date: 3/11/10 Section: News
The Tarleton Student Government Association held an open forum on Tuesday in the Barry B. Thompson Student Center concerning the recent five percent budget cut. It was an open event for all students to attend to get the information about budget cuts directly from the administrators.
Tarleton State University President Dr. Dominic Dottavio said that the budget cuts are a state mandated plan from Austin. In late December 2009, the university received a letter signed by the governor, the lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the House of Representatives from Texas. The letter explained how Tarleton's budget would be cut five percent and Tarleton had to submit a plan on how they were going to handle it.
Dottavio told students how the Texas economy is better than most states. Louisiana State University, for example, recently had to let go 244 faculty members because of budget cuts.
The University of Nevada also suffered when their budget was cut 22 percent. The budget cut was applied to different departments chosen by administration and the average cut was less than one-half of one percent of each of the departments selected. Dottavio said, "The impact to the total budget is really actually mild."
Construction on campus has been a main topic of discussion. Students asked questions about how the university are still constructing new buildings on campus when the budget has been reduced.
Dottavio explained how construction of new buildings, like the nursing building and dormitories, are funded with specific state revenue bonds.
For this reason, construction of new buildings is exempt from the budget cut. This money cannot be transferred to another account. It can only be used for construction purposes.
Dottavio also spoke on the renovation of the Trogden house. Every president in the A&M school system gets a housing allowance that they can choose what to do with. Dottavio chose to restore a house on campus, that has much history, instead of buying a new house. He chose to do this because he believes it will, "encourage leadership and provide a 24/7 learning environment."
Tarleton State University President Dr. Dominic Dottavio said that the budget cuts are a state mandated plan from Austin. In late December 2009, the university received a letter signed by the governor, the lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the House of Representatives from Texas. The letter explained how Tarleton's budget would be cut five percent and Tarleton had to submit a plan on how they were going to handle it.
Dottavio told students how the Texas economy is better than most states. Louisiana State University, for example, recently had to let go 244 faculty members because of budget cuts.
The University of Nevada also suffered when their budget was cut 22 percent. The budget cut was applied to different departments chosen by administration and the average cut was less than one-half of one percent of each of the departments selected. Dottavio said, "The impact to the total budget is really actually mild."
Construction on campus has been a main topic of discussion. Students asked questions about how the university are still constructing new buildings on campus when the budget has been reduced.
Dottavio explained how construction of new buildings, like the nursing building and dormitories, are funded with specific state revenue bonds.
For this reason, construction of new buildings is exempt from the budget cut. This money cannot be transferred to another account. It can only be used for construction purposes.
Dottavio also spoke on the renovation of the Trogden house. Every president in the A&M school system gets a housing allowance that they can choose what to do with. Dottavio chose to restore a house on campus, that has much history, instead of buying a new house. He chose to do this because he believes it will, "encourage leadership and provide a 24/7 learning environment."
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