CUNY Budget Cuts Down to the Bone
by Mattlee Davis

Kingsborough along with other CUNY college campuses can breathe a sigh of relief – sort of – as $129 million was restored to school programs under the passage of Mayor Michael Bloomberg's controversial $58.5 billion Executive Budget for 2009.

Following intense debate, and the nation on the verge of a recession, major cuts were made in many areas, and are still expected in the future.

Bloomberg spoke during a news conference at City Hall, warning that the budget problems are far from over. “Everyone is going to have to tighten their belts,” he said. “I don't have to tell anybody here that this is a difficult time and forecasts are worrisome.

Though CUNY may still receive cuts, the budget shies away from what was formerly proposed after much scrutiny.

According to Bloomberg's earlier proposal, Kingsborough, along with CUNY's 22 other campuses around the city, could have lost upwards of $65 million. This would include cuts to various programs, scholarships, and a rise in tuition prices.

“Every city dollar that we do not receive means that we effectively lose a dollar of state funds, and that conditions at our community colleges worsen,” said CUNY Chancellor Matthew Goldstein before the NYC Council Committee in May.

Goldstein went into vivid detail as he described the various reports he received from the presidents of several CUNY colleges on the impact those cuts would have had on their schools. He stated that Kingsborough President Regina Peruggi indicated that reductions would lead to significant cuts in the purchase and maintenance of science lab supplies and equipment. In addition, tutors for reading and writing programs would be reduced by over 25 percent.

But Kingsborough is not the only school that would have felt the brunt of the proposal. LaGuardia Community College could have lost 444 class sections at a time when the college's enrollment is growing at six percent and is opening new programs. Borough of Manhattan Community College would be forced to eliminate 56 adjunct teaching positions. Bronx Community College would have to eliminate 230 class sections, decreasing the availability of classes by 6,900 seats and increasing the average class size from 27 to 37. These are only of few of several colleges who would have been tremendously affected by these cuts.

“I opposed education cuts in February, and I oppose this latest proposal as well. It simply makes no sense when our schools are still struggling, going without science labs, after-school and arts programs, tutoring services and guidance counselors,” said Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz in a statement.

“These are indeed tough economic times, and my office has been asked to make difficult budget decisions as well. But it is precisely now, when parents are working twice as hard to make ends meet, that families in our neediest communities and in every corner of the city need our schools to be an even stronger positive force in our children's lives,” he added.

  On May 7, fourteen City Council members joined more than 150 CUNY faculty, staff and students at a City Hall press conference calling on the mayor and the City Council to restore the budget cuts he proposed. At the press conference the Professional Staff Congress (PSC), who organized the event, delivered 25,000 postcards signed by CUNY students, faculty and staff demanding budget restorations.

“Enrollment at CUNY is higher than it has been in 35 years, and students are streaming into colleges to prepare for difficult economic conditions. This is no time to cut the City University,” said PSC President Barbara Bowen. “The proposed $28.3 million in operating funds should be restored, as should the $15.7 million proposed cut to student support. New York City is throwing away millions of dollars in State capital funds by not matching the capital funding for CUNY.”

The new fiscal year is set to begin on July 1 st , and though some remain angry by the proposals, Bloomberg admits that he was not able to provide as much money to certain programs as he would have liked. “With so much uncertainty in the local and national economy, we need to show fiscal restraint just as families across the city are doing,” he said.