UH Board of Regents approves reduced University of Hawai‘i operating budget for fiscal years 2010 and 2011

University of Hawaiʻi
Contact:
Carolyn Tanaka, (808) 956-9803
External Affairs & University Relations
Posted: Oct 23, 2008

KAHULUI, Maui, Hawaiʻi — At its monthly meeting held today at Maui Community College, the University of Hawaiʻi Board of Regents (BOR) voted to approve a reduced operating budget for the University of Hawaiʻi for fiscal years 2010 and 2011. The reductions comply with instructions from the State Department of Budget and Finance to submit budgets to the state administration for three scenarios, which for the university is a reduction in its general funds budget ranging from $13.5 million, to $22.0 million, to $30.6 million.

"These reductions are occurring in the context of a surge in UH enrollment, up nearly 3,000 students in the last year, to an all-time high of 53,500," said UH President David McClain. "Our proposed operating budget reflects the need to sustain our services to this larger population, and is consistent with Department of Budget and Finance instructions, which encouraged us to use alternatives to general funds where possible."

The required operating budget reductions will be financed by a combination of general funds expenditure reductions and a transfer of program expenditures to funding by special, revolving or federal funds. Most of the reductions will be achieved by energy conservation and deferral of hiring for vacant positions. None of the reductions planned will affect the university‘s ongoing program of repair and maintenance, or programs focused on Native Hawaiians.

"Our focus continues to be on doing all we can to insure that we continue to make progress on our strategic outcomes, particularly student success, and sustaining the quality of education we provide while increasing the number of graduates from UH," said McClain.