A message from Dr. Pohl

[Harry]

A message from the President

As you’ve likely heard through the media today, the Texas leadership has directed state agencies to enact 7 percent reductions to current fiscal year budgets. The immediate cutbacks are ordered to help combat a projected $1.8 billion deficit this year. The directive addresses only the remaining seven months of this fiscal year. It does not address future projected state revenue shortfalls of $9.9 billion, which will be addressed by the legislature as it crafts the budget for the next biennium.

To address the current shortfall, agencies statewide are expected to study their budgets to make the necessary reductions and reallocations.

Although UNT has not yet received a written directive from the state, we believe that the university may have to trim $8 million from its current budget, however that number may change.

As we work to pare down our budgets, I want you to know that I will, wherever possible, minimize the impact on our current employees and the basic services provided by our university. I am intent on providing our students a quality education, while continuing to support important student services. Equally important, I do not foresee in the immediate future a reduction in currently employed staff and faculty, and I will work to avoid a reduction in our current workforce.

Right now, we will all have to do our part to help address the state’s current shortfall. There’s no doubt that we are going to have to do some belt tightening. I will update you shortly about how we will go about making the necessary budget adjustments.

These are challenging times for our state financially, and I anticipate that they will continue to be for sometime. Our legislators will have to grapple with this reality and its impact on higher education. I can’t predict the outcomes, but I can assure you that I will continue to communicate with you as we gain an understanding of how the decisions they make will impact UNT.