In response to the ever-present budget crisis, Gov. Bill Ritter shaved $320 million off the state budget on Aug. 25.
To accumulate the $320 million, Gov. Ritter plans on cutting 267 state positions. It is estimated, however, that job losses could exceed 80,000 by the end of the year.
At CU, cutbacks have already been implemented. CU spokesperson Bronson Hilliard confirms that the university decreased its budget by $12.9 million this fiscal year. The removal of 75 jobs has contributed to that decrease.
“We’ve eliminated 33 faculty positions that have not yet been filled. In addition, there were 42 staff positions eliminated. No one was hired so no layoffs have been made,” Hilliard said.
All eliminated positions were technically not available at the time, but the administration still had them listed.
Across campus, students are unaware of the changes taking place for the most part.
After interviewing nine students, two knew of the budget cuts and only one knew basic details of the plan. Most Colorado residents who were interviewed had little to no knowledge of the budget cuts. Students expressed little anxiety about family members losing state jobs.
Adam Huckaby, a 20-year-old junior chemical engineering major, voiced what several other students said.
“I just haven’t heard much about it,” Huckaby said. “I really don’t know what’s going on.”
He noted he did not know enough about the issue to comment further, but added he was alarmed and would look into the matter.
Charlotte Gill, a 19-year-old sophomore political science major, worked with Gov. Ritter this past summer as an intern. Gill pays close attention to the surrounding debate on higher education along with Colorado politics. During her internship, Gill came to several conclusions concerning the budget cuts.
“I think it’s pretty ridiculous. Money should be invested in higher education because in the long run, that’s what brings in revenue,” Gill said. “I worked as an intern for him over the summer and noticed he was cutting the budget in other areas as well; it wasn’t arbitrary, but should have been thought about longer. Big decisions like that need to be weighed and discussed in-depth. I don’t think it was the right move to cut higher ed funding, but then again I don’t know what the right move is.”
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Adrian Kun at Adrian.Kun@colorado.edu.
