UTEP, EPCC Cutting Back Costs During Recession

By ABC-7 Anchor/Reporter Celina Avila

EL PASO — With the country in a recession, many higher learning institutions are slashing budgets to make ends meet.

“We are pretty much ok this budget year,” said Richard Adauto, the assistant to UTEP President Diana Natalicio. He did mention the university is paying close attention to budget costs and is spending its money more wisely.

One of the first suspects: travel costs.

Adauto said the university now has strict oversight over staff travel. It is also looking into doing meetings with the University of Texas systemthrough video conferencing.

All current construction projects on campus have already been paid for, Adauto said.

When it comes to faculty, the university will still replace anyone who has retired or left. However, it is evaluating other positions to see which can be eliminated.

“We are certainly asking departments to review those needs carefully,” said Adauto.

UTEP may depend on state funds, but El Paso Community College relies solely on city property taxes. “We were[alert] as we put together our budget .. aboutthe financial constraints faced by both our students and local tax payers,” said Dr. Ernie Roberts, the executive assistant to the college president.

According to Roberts, the college has maintained a balanced budget without having to increase property taxes or tuition for the last two years. Although all college employees got a raise this year, Roberts said there is a hiring freeze on some positions.

“We would certainly love to fill those positions based on our enrollment, but we chose not to doso we could accrue salary savings,” Roberts said.

The college has also reduced their travel budget by about 15% and cut back on maintenance of some of its facilities.

As for the future, both campuses will have to wait and see.

“We have to have a very good crystal ball in terms of projecting our expenses and revenues,” said Adauto.