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Discussion on CUNY's budget deficit and management of expenses

0:30:00

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Council Member Dinowitz and CUNY officials discuss the university's budget deficit and how it's managing expenses in light of recent budget cuts and restorations.

CUNY faces a $24 million structural deficit at community colleges, even after some funding restorations
Officials explain how the $15 million restoration helped cover expenses and prevent further staffing cuts
The discussion touches on the impact of budget constraints on various CUNY initiatives and services

Sherif Soliman

0:30:00

Sure.

0:30:00

And thank you for the question, chair.

0:30:02

I think that you're right we were fortunate and we're thankful last year of course for the council's advocacy and then of course for the restoration and the adopted budget for one time funds of $15,000,000, which really helped us cover our expenses at the community colleges.

0:30:26

The structural deficit at the community colleges is still at $24,000,000.

0:30:32

And that is after we were fortunate enough to have the continuation of the community college funding floor at the state level.

0:30:41

So that we don't backslide with respect to the enrollment declines.

0:30:44

And an additional $5,300,000 that was allocated as well in the state budget.

0:30:48

So between those three pots of revenue that were coming in, the structural deficit still at 24,000,000.

0:30:55

So it was helping us cover our expenses.

0:30:57

Clearly there is more to do and clearly when you look at some of the areas certainly referenced in the testimony.

0:31:04

You know just take a look at the financial aid councils for example, the shock to the system from last year with FAFSA.

0:31:10

So we really had to figure out ways that we could either use overtime, use private funding to try to figure out how we could engage students so that enrollment would be where it needs to be.

0:31:23

And we were successful.

0:31:25

We have an uptick in enrollment for the fall.

0:31:29

But I think that's just one example of what we can do.

0:31:31

I think a lot of investments always goes into academic advisement which we know really helps support students.

0:31:38

So it's these, you know, wraparound supports that we can really invest in if we had access to that revenue.

Eric Dinowitz

0:31:47

If not for the 15,000,000, would there have been programs that you would have had to cut?

Sherif Soliman

0:31:55

I think that there would have been other reductions in particular headcount in certain areas.

0:32:03

So we know that we've had, for example, when you look at the five year change in headcount.

0:32:10

We've gotten we've lost almost 500 positions in the community colleges since fiscal year twenty twenty one and that's really had an impact across you know across the spectrum.

0:32:21

And so it maybe would have meant less investment in certain areas.

0:32:25

Right.

0:32:25

So for example if you take BMCC for example an outreach center in Harlem where we can engage students in their neighborhood or prospective students in their neighborhoods.

0:32:35

Right.

0:32:36

So if there's less revenue to invest in sort of the personnel and the headcount to be able to have boots on the ground, so we are able to attract as many students as possible, that's just one micro example.

0:32:48

Right?

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