IPS Budget Update - Message sent 12/9

If you’ve been following the news, I’m sure you’ve heard a good bit lately about the status of the state and university budgets. I’m providing an update on the IPS budget as it relates to our three line items.

We had a budget cut this year in our state appropriation and we are anticipating a 3.4% cut in next year’s state appropriations. Our local appropriations have fluctuated with those of local governments. Our grants, contracts and fees also have seen significant decreases. We have been fortunate to receive ARRA funds in the form of “maintenance of efforts” that basically restored our state appropriation in the form of “one-time” funds. We also have received a number of ARRA state and federal grants through competitive bids.

What does all this mean? In spite of all our efforts, we have had to make a few lay-offs. We have lost five full-time employees over the last eighteen months (four in CIS and one in LEIC). These were all difficult, but necessary for us to keep our budget balanced. We also have held a number of positions open as they have become vacant. We have 192 full time positions and 169 of them are filled today. We have continued to fill critical positions and those funded by new or extended grants and contracts. In order to provide all the services that our customers expect, we need to fill all our positions. We simply cannot.

The IPS leadership team is working hard to make long-term budget projections. We will have ARRA funds to carry a number of positions and projects through June 2011. The economy is beginning to make a slow recovery and so will our local appropriations and fees. We are making every effort to balance our budgets without making additional lay-offs. It is difficult. Training resources and out of state travel have been significantly curtailed. Each agency management team is making the decisions that work best for their agency.

What does the future hold? We’re making our best guess on revenues and all possible funding alternatives. We’re reviewing all services and how we deliver them. We are delaying some purchases. We are continuing to focus on efficiency and effectiveness. We appreciate all the efforts of each staff member to help us through these difficult times. Special thanks to the directors and those responsible for budgeting for leaving no stone unturned. But most especially, thanks to those in the field with our customers every day. You provide the services that our customers need in these very difficult times. They are counting on you and we know we can count on you as well.

I will keep you updated as we move forward in our budget planning process. Let me know if you have additional questions.