Reporter Volume 26, No.22 March 30, 1995

By LISA WILEY
Reporter Contributor
Change is the order of the day, said Senior Vice President Robert J.
Wagner, who updated members of the Professional Staff Senate (PSS) on
the budget crisis at a March 23 meeting.
	"If there's a theme for this presentation, it's change.
There's a lot of decisions to be made," Wagner said.
	"We're here to help each other," said Rosalyn Wilkinson, PSS
chair. "As managers and professionals, we have an obligation to lead
people through various changes that will come about." Wagner put the
budget crunch into perspective by outlining cuts in SUNY
appropriations and the recommended revenue increases. "You can't ever
find in SUNY's history a change of $290 million," he said.
	In addition, the institution has never received such a low
level of state tax support, he said. In the 1986-87 year, UB's budget
consisted of 90 percent tax support. By contrast, the 1995-96 proposed
budget consists of 43.5 percent tax support. Mario Cuomo began to
reduce that percentage as the university filled the gap with income --
mainly tuition.
	 Wagner also addressed the impact of the $1,600 anticipated
tuition increase for undergraduates. It would be equivalent to an
increase from $20,000 to $32,000 at an independent university, he
said. The proposed budget also assumes that SUNY will hit its
enrollment figures, he said.
	When asked if the administration were resigned to a $290
million budget cut, Wagner replied, "We have a loud voice that is
being heard at the moment. But we're not the only voice that is being
heard." Funding for health care, and primary and secondary schools has
also garnered attention, he explained.
Wagner also discussed the consultation
	planning process that will be used to develop the 1995-96
budget. "Before we get to layoff and retrenchment  of anyone, we have
to make sure that we get general administration down as low as we can
get it," he said.
	Human resources and employment strategies will also be
implemented. An aggressive pursuit of early retirement will be
launched as well as training and development to promote career
mobility and the ability to promote from within. UB will also examine
revenue and fee opportunities such as establishing a parking fee for
faculty and staff and for computer repair.
	Wagner foresees that the university will increase investment
in advancement and development as it cuts other areas in order "to do
the things that make us attractive," he said.
	"We need to think about the problems if we are going to get to
the right answers in the fall and next year."
	In other business, nominations for 1995 PSS Outstanding
Service Awards are due April 21. They must be submitted to Ilene
Fleischmann, chair of the PSS awards committee, in 310 O'Brian Hall.