McNeese State University President Dr. Robert Hebert said Thursday that state funding for the university for 2009-2010 fiscal year that began July 1 is down at least 13 percent compared to last year. Allocations from the state to McNeese general fund are $37,526,927 for the 2009-2010 budget compared to $43,151,016 for the 2008-2009 budget.

Two weeks ago McNeese was facing a potential $8.6 million budget cut compared to last year's budget. "The last minute compromises reached by the legislature and the Governor restored some of that, but it is one year money," Hebert said. After funds were restored to the higher education budget, the total cut to McNeese is just over $5.6.

"McNeese was required to cut over $1.9 million from its budget in the middle of the budget year," Candace Townsend, director of public information and communications explained. "More than $119 million was cut from the 2009-2010 higher education budget. The direct cut to McNeese was $3,723,587. When added to the mid-year cut, our budget has been reduced by $5,624,089 million compared to last July 1," Townsend said.

Townsend said that final budget figures are still very much uncertain. "In addition to the budget cut, the university must pay for increases in other costs that are not covered by the state appropriation." These include a portion of employees' insurance and retirement benefits and general liability insurance on campus property and facilities. "We have not received final information for those expenses, but we expect increases which will further impact our total budget," Townsend said.

McNeese has been preparing for a budget cut by holding vacant positions, freezing or reducing travel, supplies, operating services, unnecessary maintenance and repairs and other expenses.

The reduction of the budget cut by the legislature will allow McNeese to restore some funding for priority expenses Townsend said, however the decision to hold merit raises will stand for now. McNeese will restore partial funding for areas directly related to classroom instruction and student scholarships.

"Delivering quality classroom instruction is our highest priority," Hebert said.

Hebert said the $5.6 million reduction in state funds will impact all areas of the campus, academic and non-academic, and it will also have an impact on the local and state economy. "McNeese has an annual economic impact of $335 million that includes the university's operating expenditures, construction projects, and spending by our employees, students and visitors. To address these budget cuts we will be hiring fewer employees and spending less on non-critical needs."