BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER state-level budget stalemate that’s been ongoing since July could cause real problems — and real changes — at Western Carolina University if it continues much longer. “Each of the projects listed in the budget represents a critical need for Western Carolina University,” said Chancellor Kelli R. Brown. “The long-term effects of a lack of funding could be devastating to the health of our campus.” This is especially true in light of the university’s status as an N.C. Promise institu-
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March 11-17, 2020 Smoky Mountain News
tion. WCU is one of three University of North Carolina schools to participate in the program, which offers in-state undergraduates the chance to attend for just $500 per semester in tuition. The actual cost of offering a semester of education is far more than $500, but the agreement is that the state will fill the gap. With no budget yet passed for the 201920 fiscal year — which began in July — the state is still operating on the 2018-19 budget. Because N.C. Promise just launched in fall 2018, that budget did not include all the funding the program now requires, especially with enrollment rising. The university faces a budget shortfall of $4 million that should have been covered in state funding for fall 2018 and 2019. According to a financial report presented to the WCU Trustees’ Finance and Audit Committee March 5, receipts from student tuition and fees decreased by $19.45 million from 2018 to 2019, when N.C. Promise went into effect.
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Raleigh budget squabbles impact WCU
current budget went into effect, WCU has added 1,133 new students. Much of that increase is attributable to increased interest resulting from the N.C. Promise program. “We are beginning to think about the possible need to slow the rate of enrollment growth because we don’t want to enroll a larger number of students and not be able to provide them with the high-quality edu“This is one of the reasons why the cational experiences that they expect,” said budget impasse affects Western and the Brown. “The lack of funding to meet the other two N.C. Promise institutions so needs of our increasing enrollment won’t be heavily,” Vice Chancellor for felt in just the classroom. For example, I am Administration and Finance Mike Byers concerned about the impact in our ability told trustees during a Finance and Audit to meet the health care needs of our stuCommittee meeting March 5. “We normally dents, including mental health.” would have collected tuition from students University of North Carolina System similar to the prior four years, but this year Interim President Bill Roper visited WCU that difference would have been made up March 5 to highlight the university’s budget by the buy-down in N.C. Promise. needs stemming from the ongoing budget Taxpayers would have picked up that much impasse. more of the students’ tuition than they “Continuing support of our universities already do, but for the three N.C. Promise requires fiscal backing from our state’s leadinstitutions that gap hasn’t been filled.” ers,” said Roper. “My concern for the UNC System is, pure and simple, nonpartisan and apolitical, which is why I will continue to request that our state’s leaders on both sides of the aisle come together to find a resolution. I maintain hope that the budget will get enacted. There are no greater examples to illustrate the importance of getting this accomUniversity of North Carolina plished than the System Interim President Bill critical needs that Roper (far left) tours the face Western Carolina.” Western Carolina University In addition to steam plant March 5. N.C. Promise, the Ashley Evans/WCU photo budget impasse has stymied critical capital projects not included in the curThe budget is already nine months late, rent operating budget — most notably, but according to Director of External Western Carolina University is unable to Relations Meredith Whitfield, the wait is repair its outdated and failing steam plant, likely to drag on much longer. which is one harsh winter or mechanical “It sounds like there is a strong likelifailure away from a complete shutdown. hood we will not get a budget deal this year, This scenario nearly occurred in 2016, and and it might be something we’ll have to four years later, the steam plant is living on wait until after the (November) election borrowed time. The opening of the Tom for,” she told the trustee’s Administration, Apodaca Science Building will also be Governance and Trusteeship Committee delayed if operations and maintenance March 5. funding in the budget continues to be tied The current strategy is to get the state up into the next legislative session. government to at least pass a mini budget An ongoing budget stalemate will also covering universities even as the overall adversely affect WCU’s ability to attract and budget stalemate continues. The budget retain key faculty, which could in turn issue stems from Democratic Gov. Roy impact faculty-to-student teaching ratios. Cooper’s refusal to sign a budget that doesAdditionally, university leaders fear that the n’t include provisions for Medicaid expanimpasse will impact the institution’s credit sion and the Republican-controlled General evaluation by Moody’s, which is set to Assembly’s refusal to pass one that does. occur later this spring. A lower credit rating If nothing gives, WCU might have to could limit WCU’s ability to finance make some tough decisions. Namely, it planned capital projects. might have to rein in enrollment. Since the
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