By Adam Allington, KWMU
St. Louis, MO – The University of Missouri system is preparing for budget cuts in the wake of what is expected to be a 15-25 percent decrease in state funding. The university's board of curators met in St. Louis on Friday.
UM-President Gary Forsee will be submitting cost cutting scenarios to the state next Thursday. But he cautioned that his figures are only hypothetical at this point and do not reflect an immediate to cut staff or resources.
He says he won't have a clear financial picture until next year, when the state releases its budget.
"This will be illustrative of the actions that could be required, again putting the caveat that we probably won't know until January or early February exactly what the number is that will come from the state that will suggest what the impact will be to the university," says Forsee.
Forsee announced that he is also lobbying Missouri's congressional delegation for possible economic stimulus money to support campus infrastructure projects.
Forsee says he has over 70 projects that could be started within 90 days to repair campus infrastructure and create jobs.
"The University of Missouri ought to be part of the economic stimulus package that's put together because of the resources and the investments," explained Forsee. "We know that when dollars are invested in the University of Missouri there is a 5-1 return."
The curators meeting comes on the heels of news from the Missouri Department of Higher Education that state support for the UM system could decrease between $60-100 million.