With fiscal projections calling for cuts across the board, the Faculty Senate gathered today to discuss the budget and the measures that will be necessary to make dollars stretch.

The budget proposed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger this January, the source of funding reductions at Sacramento State, could cause a 7 percent cut to all departments. A 10 percent fee increase to students is also likely.

According to a non-binding agreement made between CSU schools and Gov. Schwarzenegger, however, the state could buy out a fee increase to assist with college accessibility.

“If you were to ask me and I was to bet, the state will not buy out the fee increase and there will be a 10 percent fee increase (to students) next year,” said Bob Buckley, Academics Policy Committee chair and computer science professor.

Joseph Sheley, provost and vice president of Academic Affairs, presented information and budget statistics that revealed a shortfall of $10 million. The shortfall is a result of the Governor’s proposed budget, state-level cutbacks in funding and an increase of enrollment at Sac State that was not and will not be funded by the state.

It is impossible to predict how all the financial discussion about the upcoming budget will shake out, but at the moment, Faculty Senate members are being asked to look into the consequences of the cut of 7 percent across the board. At a future meeting, the faculty will present possible consequences of these severe cuts.

“We don’t have scenarios yet,” Sheley said. “When we know what the impacts are, we will come back and talk.”

Other CSU campuses have already begun a hiring freeze as a preemptive move to save money. While Sac State has not started such a freeze, at least 20 vacant positions have been suspended and will not be filled this financial year. Sheley was quick to point out that while the temptation to terminate contracts for part-time instructors is strong, there are currently no plans for such action.

The good news, Sheley said, is that CSU Faculty Senate members have organized and are preparing to face the budget challenges head on.

“We could sit and cry, we could sit and wait to see if the state bails us out, which I don’t expect, or we can come up with a five-year plan and mobilize,” Sheley said.

Derek Fleming can be contacted at [email protected].