4
December 1, 1983
Central State University, Edmond, Oklahoma
Vol. 82, No. 24
23 percent cutbacks possible in December
By Mike Sherman Editor CSU's budget picture was serious but will get worse, said CSU President Bill Lillard in reaction to the abrupt end of the special session of the state legislature Wednesday. Gov. George Nigh called a special session of the legislature to consider a $650 million tax increase package. The special session convened Nov. 28 but was adjourned in the House of Representatives Wednesday morning. Unable to pass any legislation by itself, the Senate followed suit early in the afternoon. The legislature will return for the regular session Jan. 3. Lillard said administrators were discussing areas which absorb further cuts Wednesday morning. When the meeting broke, Lillard said he heard radio reports of the House's action. "The situation is very serious, but we will continue to cutback," Lillard said. "The state hasn't said would you like to cut back or do you think you could. This isn't a theory or a philosiphy. We must abide by the instructionns we were given." Lillard said the university, which dealt with a 4.1 percent slash in income for November, could possibly see a 23 percent cutback in December. This decrease would mean a loss of $400,000-$450,000 for CSU, he said. "We will just have to play it month by month to see what the state collections will be," Lillard said. "If they are equal to what has been anticipated we could be safe. But if they aren't all state agencies will have to bear the proportional reductions. There are no discretions involved here. It is an across-the-board cut." Previously, Lillard had noted that part-time faculty, summer school and night classes would be in danger if a tax increase was not approved. Lillard also predicted that failure to inact a tax package would mean a loss of $5 million to CSU next year.
Vista photo by Daniel Smith
Kecia Massey of the CSU concert band plays the french horn during a concert Tuesday night in the
University Center Ballroom.
See LILLARD, page 3
House pulls the plug
Atkinson says schools must suffer By MaryGaye Franklin Staff Reporter State House member and CSU graduate Gean Atkinson, ROklahoma City, said that without a tax increase schools and other state services will have to suffer along with families and businesses in this time of economic shortage. "I think that a reduction in the states budget is going to set the state back as much as it is going to set any business or family back that have had to reduce their level of expenditure to meet a reduced level of income," Atkinson said. According to Atkinson the cuts will effect education significantly. "If we have to make up $550 million over the next 18 months the effects on education are going to be very serious," Atkinson said. "If you look at the figures for common education it means reduction of 4000-5000 teachers.
"In higher education it is going to mean the reduction of staff, the number of programs, reduction in the selection of courses and an increase in tuition. It doesn't take a genius to figure out that the money is going to have to be made up some place." Even though a proposed tax increase package could prevent the state's budget from being slashed, Atkinson said that he would not vote in favor of any tax increase without it being strongly covered by a reduction in expenditures. "Any cut to state services will be harmful. The fact of the matter is if the state doesn't have the money to pay for the services they simply will have to do without them," Atkinson said. Gov. George Nigh called a special session of the legislature to consider a $650 million tax increase. The special session con-
In this issue. . Grads to display art work...page 6 Bronchos to defend title Saturday...page 7 Grapplers back in action...page 8
vened Monday and was adjourned Wednesday by a majority voice vote in the House. The Senate had no option but to also adjourn. Atkinson feels the call for adjournment by the legislators was caused by pressure from the people. "The legislative leaders are doing what we have been telling them to do ever since we got to the special session," Atkinson said. "The people of Oklahoma do not want a tax increase they want the overhead of state government cut to meet its income. "The people of Oklahoma have let their voices be heard loud enough that even the Democratic controlled legislature can't ignore it." Represenative Steve Sill, REdmond, said that he has received over 400 phone calls since last week from constituents opposing any tax increase. Sill said the ratio was 40-1 against a tax increase. Sill said he only heard from one CSU student about the tax issue. "The student told me that he did not want his taxes raised that he would rather pay higher tuition than higher taxes," Sill said. "This is simply an issue where no conscious is involved necessarily, it is an issue where the constituents have spoken out loud and clear against a tax increase." According to Atkinson, "Those in favor of the tax package have found out that they cannot get a
tax increase because of pressure from the people. So they are trying to come up with a second way of cutting expenditures which is what they should have done in the first place. "There is no question that we are spending more than we are bringing in and we are going to have to do exactly what business does. That is to cut our outgo to meet our income. "When those services are cut back to the point that the taxpayers are willing to foot the bill for more services then they will let us know," Atkinson said. Sill said, "I am not in favor of increasing taxes one dime until we as legislators have shown the people of the state that we are responsible managers of the resources they have entrusted with us, we have not done that." According to Sill, the financial problems of the state have been caused by the monetary surpluses in past years. "Surpluses led to growth and consumption of money by state agencies. So now the appetite of these agencies is such that we have to have this kind of income to keep them fit. That is what has caused the crisis," Sill said. Sill said in his opinion the surpluses should have either been divided up and been given back to the taxpayers or used to make major capital improvements such as
new roads and highways in the state. Sill feels that the editorials run in the past week in The Daily Oklahoman along with a list of legislators and their phone numbers have had a marked affect on the citizens response to the tax increase. "I think the major effect the editorials have had is publishing for the first time the names and phone numbers of the members of the House and Senate," Sill said.
Tickets available for playoff game at The Corner Tickets for Saturday's playoff game between CSU and Saginaw Valley, Mich. begining at 1 p.m. at Wantland Stadium are now on sale at The Corner in the University Center. CSU students, staff and faculty may purchase tickets for in advance provided they have proper I . D. Other advance ticket prices are $7 for box seats, $6 for reserved and $5 for general admission. Game day prices are $6 for general admission and $7 for reserved. Students, faculty and staff who purchase tickets on game day will have to pay the regular price.