News        from ABAC

Michael D. Chason Director of Public Relations ABAC 30 -- 2802 Moore Highway Tifton, GA 31793-2601 Phone 229-391-5055 Fax 229-391-5056 mchason@abac.edu

IMMEDIATE JULY 5, 2008

ABAC TO DEAL WITH BUDGET CUT

TIFTON—Facing a downturn in state revenue collections, Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College is preparing to cut approximately $900,000 from its fiscal year 2009 budget which went into effect on July 1.

ABAC President David Bridges said the University System of Georgia has asked all 35 colleges and universities in the System to reduce their state appropriated budgets by five percent.

“We are entering this period of austerity with a positive attitude,” said Bridges, who began his third year as the ABAC President on Tuesday. “Enrollment and revenue projections are strong, and we fared well with respect to state funding over the past two years.”

But rising energy costs are affecting many areas of the national, state and college economy, causing Bridges to keep a watchful eye on expenditures.

“The College has already taken several important steps to reduce energy consumption,” Bridges said. “Because of the uncertainty of when the economy will improve, we must exercise prudence in expenditures for the coming year.”

Bridges said ABAC will take several immediate steps to trim the budget including suspending all ongoing personnel searches, transferring certain personnel and operating expenses to non-state revenues, and delaying all proposed increases in travel and operating budgets until an extensive budget review can take place.

“These actions will allow the College to respond immediately and definitively to existing budget directives,” Bridges said. “While not easy or popular, making these adjustments will permit us to move forward with high priorities and strategic efforts.”

Classes begin for the ABAC fall semester on Aug. 18.

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