The university is listening to what staff members think about next year's budget. After all, some great ideas might emerge.

Two staff forums on March 21 and April 1 gathered grassroots feedback on how UC Davis should handle budget cuts in the 2008-09 academic year. The sessions together attracted about 200 staff members interested in the new budget realities.

If there were no budget problem, UC Davis would receive about $581 million in state general fund money for 2008-09, said Kelly Ratliff, associate vice chancellor for budget resource management. As it stands, under the state budget plan proposed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in January, UC Davis will receive less funding, though the final amount of the budget reductions is not known, she added. Still, the campus is moving forward with a plan to cut $17.5 million in permanent state support.

"We're facing some fairly big budget challenges," Ratliff said at the March 21 budget discussion in the ARC. "This is a chance for us all to think outside the box. We want your ideas and we want to hear your conversations."

It worked like this: Given budget data, employees sat at tables discussing budget-related topics like reduced time programs, new job assistance, revenue increases, staff workloads, expense reductions, energy conservation and sustainability. At the end of the hour-and-a-half program, staff from Ratliff's office recorded those suggestions for future consideration as the campus's draft budget is prepared in the coming months.

Belt-tightening is 'difficult'

Jeanene Hays, account manager for the English department, turned out for the forum so she could "find out more information on the budget" that would help in doing her job.

"It's a little difficult because we already watch what we spend," said Hays, who has worked in the UC system for 17 years. "We're not sure what's going to happen, so we're preparing for the worst case scenario."

She said reduced-time programs are one good approach to cutting costs campuswide. Also, her department is examining how to reduce phone expenses.

Pete Peterson, a quality assurance coordinator for Information and Educational Technology, recommended that UC Davis check how other UCs are dealing with the budget situation.

"We should grab some of their ideas," said Peterson, who added that he was "thrilled at the level of conversation" the forum generated. "UC Davis is good about bringing staff into the process. I hope they take these ideas, run with them, and make something happen."

Others at his table suggested that the campus could reduce travel time and costs by using more "virtual" or Web conference meetings. Throughout the room, a wide range of budget measures emanated from the tables, including forgoing temporary worker assistance; using a centralized campus calendaring system; increasing solar energy cells on rooftops; unit recharges; reducing phone usage, travel and entertainment expenses; making telecommuting more available; adopting the "best practices" of other units; and promoting energy conservation.

Voice on budget

Ratliff said there is no timetable for when these suggestions may be included in the campus's budget. "We can implement them at any time" in the spring and summer months, she noted. It is expected that the state will adopt its budget in late summer, giving each UC campus like Davis a clearer picture of its funding for next year.

As for the total number of suggestions that become part of the draft budget, Ratliff said that may range from 25 to 50, or fewer, depending on what they entail.

"We'll give you a voice," she assured the audience.

Not all comments were about dollars. Pamela Burnett, director of Undergraduate Admissions and Outreach Services, asked how the campus would "increase and maintain diversity" as part of its academic mission while facing the budget gap.

Ratliff answered that diversity is "way up there on the list, it is very important" to UC Davis and its research, teaching and public service efforts.

She reminded staff that they are welcome to send budget suggestions and questions via e-mail to the campus at budget@ucdavis.edu and SmartSite at smartsite.ucdavis.edu (they can join the SmartSite by clicking on "Membership"). For more budget news: www.news.ucdavis.edu/special_reports/budget.