N.C. State facing $36M in budget cuts

Raleigh, N.C. — North Carolina State University Chancellor James Oblinger said Tuesday that scores of employees, including faculty and administrators, could lose their jobs as the university tries to trim $36 million from its budget.

"There will be pain for all of us," Oblinger said in his annual "State of the University" address. "In good years, the university and education has done well. In the downturn, we have to step up and do our part to help."

N.C. State's history is one of listening to the needs of North Carolina and responding with real-world solutions, he said, adding that the No. 1 need now is getting North Carolina out of an economic recession.

Economists at the university don't expect an economic recovery for at least a year, he said.

"We've engaged a wide range of people and groups across campus to help us prepare our approach to the budget shortfalls," he said. "We are planning our budget reductions strategically, with a goal of giving ourselves the best chance of a quick recovery."

Despite spending cuts, Oblinger said, N.C. State will do its best to move forward with research and economic development-related projects. He cited textile research that brought Spirit Aerosystems and 1,000 jobs to Kinston.

University administrators will have a better understanding of where they will need to cut once the state's budget is presented, but "difficult decisions" are ahead, Oblinger said.

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I am a senior at NC State..How about shutting down Carter-Finley for a year. Just think of how much money is wasted on athletics that could go towards education and maintaining jobs that benefit the majority of the student body. Remember the little lady named Mary Easley? Get her off the payroll. What a shame that is.

SouthernSky
March 11, 2009 2:29 p.m.

Maybe the faculty could take a 5% cut just as some UNC faculty did. The highest paid employees can do this. And then there is Mary Easley. She did not SAVE the state $125,000 dollars when Bill Clinton spoke as that was not a necessity.

maddie
March 10, 2009 5:03 p.m.

I agree, sports must go first from schools to save money. Sports are not what school is for and the drain too much resource from education. Its a simple concept for government: With less revenue there will be less services from the government, so start cutting services now so that you can balance the budget. Have discipline and make those tough decisions intelligently - don't borrow or steal money.

LocalYokel
March 10, 2009 4:16 p.m.

Disband the sports programs to save god knows how much money and have all the athletes build you a bridge to get over the river of tears you are crying.