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NYS Residents: Take Action on SUNY Funding

Level of Government: Governor

As a New York state taxpayer, I am extremely upset and concerned with the state's plan to require SUNY to collect and set aside almost $110 million of their revenues derived from non-general fund accounts (private sources). Under this plan, the university will not be allowed to expend this revenue on behalf of the students, hospital patients and third party payers from which they were generated in return for an expected level of service that they will ultimately not receive.

In fact, $34.4 million of the tuition collected from students and their families will be withheld and not be available to support their education. The result, when added to the impact of a $38.7 million state funding cutback in the enacted 2008-09 State Budget, means that courses will be cancelled, class sizes will once again be increased and the overall quality of the university's academic programming will certainly be diminished.

In addition, $9.7 million of the dormitory fees paid by students will not be permitted to be expended on dormitory maintenance, security and student safety. Moreover, $43.0 million received by SUNY's hospitals from patients and third party insurance payments will be locked up and the hospitals will be unable to use these revenues for the care of those who paid for health care. Coupled with the continued absence of state funding for mandatory costs, the quality and content of patient health care will surely suffer.

Almost $17 million in revenues from food services, bookstores and other user-based sources will be unavailable to maintain current operations. Even the Long Island Veterans Home will be required to hold back on over $1.2 million.

This withholding does not help balance the state budget. It has no effect on state taxes nor will it save taxpayers even one penny. It was not reflected in the appropriations contained in the state budget nor the legislation accompanying those appropriations. Moreover, if implemented, SUNY will bear close to 50 percent of the total impact of this budget tactic when applied across all state agencies.

The irony is that the year began with the promise of enhanced state support in line with the findings and recommendations of the Commission on Higher Education. These proposed budgetary actions against SUNY completely contradict those findings and recommendations. Instead of a promising year of progress for SUNY, the year will end as one of the most disastrous fiscal years in SUNY's history.

I urge you to stop the implementation of this proposed budget plan for SUNY. If implemented, this proposal will have a harmful effect on students, their families and on the citizens of this state who rely on SUNY for quality health care and services. This plan will dismantle SUNY.

Sincerely,

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