Today we received our new, “equitable” budgets. We sustained downright ridiculous cuts. The money for office supplies was cut down to a pittance. Student wages were mowed down exactly at the time when hourly wage went up in accordance with state law. Travel support is eliminated. Academic memberships went down to zero. Contractual services cut by 60%.
We were told not to call these “budget cuts.” No, these are not cuts at all, we are told. These are “equitable reallocations.” You can’t be against them because it means you are against equity. What are you, far-right or something to be against equity?
Hiring freezes have a new name, too. They are called “strategic position realignments.”
As Mrs Hoyt is wont to say, “Going broke? Roll woke.”
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Ack.
I’m sorry. That sucks.
It’d be one thing if they were just honest about it: Look, hey, we are having a beastly time with the budget, we’re going to have to cut some things…
But instead, lie and pretend that’s not what is going on.
Are they covering for embezzlement or something? Why not tell the truth?
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I’d respect them a lot more if they simply called budget cuts what they are. This slick language of corporate shills is very off-putting.
But there is a positive side to this. I’m going to a budget update by our administration with a friend and we’ll write down all the stupid things that we’ll be said. Then we’ll go to lunch and mock the speakers.
And, of course, I’ll share the stupid things here.
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Is there a process for requesting an audit?
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If it’s a reallocation then they will be able to tell you which budgets increased in 2024-5 compared to 2023-4.
Good luck asking that question…
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