Southeastern’s budget for the next fiscal year is currently being discussed during the 2011 Louisiana Legislative Session, which began on April 25 and will adjourn on June 23. However, the exact details of the budget will be unknown until the session’s adjournment, which is making a few administrators on campus hold their breath.

“The simple answer is that we just don’t know,” said President John L. Crain. “There haven’t been any significant cuts as of yet. We were worried back in spring because at the end of the fiscal year (July 1) we will loose our federal stimulus money unless it is renewed. Right now I would say we’re cautiously optimistic.”

The federal stimulus money Crain talked about would amount to around $16 million for Southeastern’s campus. While there have been no cuts to Southeastern’s budget, there have been cuts and changes to the state’s executive budget. These cuts and changes have been a subject of some dispute between the House of State Representatives and the State Senate Finance Committee during the session. It is possible that, to reach a compromise, some of the stimulus’ funds may be redirected to make up for cuts in other areas.  

According to Vice President of Administration and Finance Stephen Smith, the best-case scenario for Southeastern’s budget this fiscal year is that it will remain within the same parameters as the 2010-2011 fiscal years. However, there are some bills being discussed in the session that may slightly dampen that hope.

“Its possible right now that some retirement and insurance costs may go up,” said Smith. “I know some legislation that if passed will require some employees using certain retirement systems to pay three percent of their retirement fund. Again, we won’t know until the session is concluded.”

Southeastern’s budget is not the only object on the session’s agenda. Several other bills and proposals are being discussed that could alter campus policy. See ‘Campus policy changes in limbo’ to see an update of the legislature as of press time.