USF President Expresses Some Relief On Lessened Budget Cuts

Judy Genshaft speaks to the media after the state Senate vote

USF President Judy Genshaft expressed some relief after hearing that state Senators trimmed USF's share of its budget cut from nearly 60 percent to 23 percent. But she hopes the cuts won't last beyond the next year.

Even at the lower level, she says just about every state university will have to scramble to find enough money to continue their current level of operations.

"At a level of 23 percent, what they're suggesting is that we use our one-time money, and the kind of comments coming from the Senate is that this is only one time, that they would restore it next year," she says. "The worry is if they don't restore it the next year. Then, we'd see some very drastic cuts across all of the universities."

Genshaft also expressed concern about money for the new College of Pharmacy being cut in half. She says the $6 million they had requested is needed to staff the college.

Just how much money USF and the other state universities can expect to see in the upcoming year will be decided when the state Senate and House meet to reconcile their competing spending bills.