Greetings:

Three important U of M issues have been in the news in recent weeks: the U's budget for next year, the governor's plans for unallotment, and the question of whether to sell alcohol at U sporting events. On all three fronts, the impact of the 2009 legislative session is now much clearer.

The U's FY2010 Budget

Yesterday the Board of Regents approved President Bruininks' proposed budget for fiscal year 2010. Regents called the budget "lean, focused and mindful of the economic times in which we live."

The budget will result in a maximum tuition increase for resident undergraduates of $300 for next school year -- or 3.125 percent -- thanks to federal stimulus dollars and spending reductions. In addition, the creation of a new middle-income scholarship program will result in 60 percent of resident undergraduates actually seeing a tuition reduction. Tuition for graduate, first professional and non-resident undergraduates will increase approximately 7.5 percent under the budget.

The $2.98 billion budget takes into account a $81.8 million reduction in state appropriation to the U of M for the fiscal year and makes more than $90 million in budget reductions and reallocations. Bruininks said it will result in a reduced workforce at the U, with 1,240 fewer jobs, most eliminated through attrition and an early retirement incentive. About 370 are layoffs, most of which have already occurred.

Unallotment

On June 16th, Governor Pawlenty announced his plans to eliminate the remainder of the state's deficit for the next two year through the process of unallotment, or the selective elimination or reduction of funding for state institutions, programs and projects. The U of M received an unallotment of $50 million, which comes on top of the reduction the U received in the higher ed bill passed last month. This unallotment, if unchanged, will affect the U's FY2011 budget.

Alcohol at U sporting events

Yesterday the board also approved, on a 10-2 vote, Bruininks' recommendation to make TCF Bank Stadium, Williams and Mariucci Arenas all alcohol-free on game days. Legislation passed this year and signed by Gov. Tim Pawlenty required the university to either sell alcohol nowhere in those facilities or everywhere, including general seating areas, where students make up 20 percent of the fans.

"This is not a decision we should have had to make and this legislation was truly unfortunate," said Simmons. "But we were not willing to be the only on-campus football stadium in the Big Ten to sell alcohol throughout the stadium. We're confident our fans will stand with us and will do everything in our power to ensure that TCF Bank Stadium is the best fan experience possible."

A recent editorial by the Star Tribune supported the U's position on the issue.