University to pay back money taken over break

by Rivkela Brodsky

Daily Lobo

After taking money from departments over Winter Break, the University is giving it back.

However, University and college deans will have to come up with the amount the tax would have generated, but they will have discretion over which accounts are tapped.

The decision was made after budgeters and University deans met Thursday to discuss the way the 1.1 percent tax that generated $3 million was implemented on instructional budgets.

Curt Porter, associate vice president of Budget, Planning and Analysis, said the funds will be returned in a couple days.

Sam Loker, chairman of the biology department, said he did not know the tax was going to be reversed.

"I'd prefer it if this tax just went away," he said. "That money is already planned in our budget. To suddenly have that much less money is hard to plan for. It's hard to absorb."

He said the biology department is not affected as much as other departments, but "that doesn't mean it doesn't cut us deeply."

Vera Norwood, interim dean of the College of Arts & Sciences, expressed concern in a Jan. 19 article about the tax affecting the college's ability to provide instruction. She could not be reached Monday. At the time, she said 90 percent of the college's instructional budget goes to salaries.

Deans also expressed concern that accounts that shouldn't have been taxed, including donated funds and student fee accounts, were.

Porter said the University probably should not have touched these accounts and will not touch them in the future.

"It's easy to figure it out at the top until it's implemented and you find all these little problems," Porter said.

Budgeters are looking for savings in the University budget to reduce the tax this year. The full amount of the tax will be permanent next year.

"It gives the deans an opportunity to address the regents before it becomes recurring and permanent," he said.

Deans can address regents before the budget for the next fiscal year is approved.

Porter said a mid-year budget report in February will show the University's level of savings.

Provost Reed Dasenbrock, who is also chairman of the Deans' Council, said deans welcomed the opportunity to give their input.

Other deans, some of whom were lobbying in Santa Fe, could not be reached for comment.

The decision is not final until David Harris, executive vice president for administration, approves it.