The Observer, November 2, 2007
Volume XL, Issue 9
Editorial: Budget deficit can be easily managed
It seems that everyone with a voice has something to say about the state of Case's budget lately. The Plain Dealer and Crain's Cleveland Business both ran editorials on Monday detailing their respective suggestions for solving Case's $20 million problem.
The faculty, staff, and especially the students of this university have a responsibility to help find ways to alleviate the budget deficit. As people who are and will continue to be affected by this issue, we need to actively involve ourselves in the problem-solving process.
The simplest way to help, of course, is to voice our opinions on what should be done. Barbara Snyder has repeatedly called for suggestions from the campus community; those of us blessed with an insider's perspective shouldn't leave it up to The Plain Dealer and Crain's Cleveland Business to determine what should be done.
Meanwhile, Snyder and the administration should be more open about why we're in this mess and how they plan to clean it up. Last week's "message from the president" cited "expenses related to the 2006 affiliation agreement with University Hospitals" and "significant one-time costs as a result of discoveries made as part of the its [sic] budget office's renewed attention to fiscal accountability" as major sources of budget problems in the School of Medicine. What do these statements mean? Transparency is a professed goal of the university financial health plan, but explanations at this point seem quite opaque.
Recently, citytowninfo.com found that "salaries for professors at Case Western Reserve are notably higher than the vast majority of other post-secondary institutions." High, competitive salaries are necessary to attract the most competent researchers and professors, but the administration should be mindful of hiking salaries even higher when Case is already in the red.
During the last budget crisis, which occurred before Edward Hundert resigned in 2006, SAGES was actually given more money. By now, SAGES should be able to speak for itself. More money should not be poured into the program when other departments may soon be scavenging for funds.
Sustainability efforts already monitor energy use on campus, but with winter fast approaching, heat usage will soon be a huge money drain. Certain dorms are known for maintaining a temperature much higher than necessary, to the point where people keep their windows open while it's snowing. Keeping an eye on areas where inefficiency is common will help save money.
Finally, the administration absolutely should not depend on a tuition or enrollment increase to solve any part of the budget problem. Many of us are struggling to keep up with tuition as it is, and overcrowding our learning environment won't help Case become "the institution we all know it can be."
We realize that balancing the budget will be a long process, and that the ultimate result will be an impressive one. Snyder has already renewed the university's sense of community and we have confidence that she and the administration will manage the deficit with diligence and competence.
