Other Information:
RE: Balancing the Washington State University Budget
We, the undersigned, recognize that the state is requiring WSU to balance its budget. Therefore, we offer the following solution to this requirement, as a way to
We understand that Washington State University must find an additional $10,000,000.00/year for the next three years (total: $30,000,000.00).
The administration's current proposal for balancing the budget includes:
36 WSU employees make more than $300,000.00 a year. At least 21 are administrators (chairs - president).
3 of these WSU administrators already make more than the President of the United States (>$400,000.00).
Even with the proposed cut, 13 out of 21 of these employees would still make more than the Vice President of the United States (>$230,700.00). Even with the proposed cut, all 21 employees would still make more than the Governor of the State of Washington (>$172,500.00).
An estimated $2,360,430.00 could be saved by cutting 30% from the salaries of the 21 WSU administrators earning more than $300,000.00.*
104 WSU employees make between $200,000.00 and 299,999.99 yearly. 49 of these WSU employees are administrators.
All of these employees make more than the Governor of the State of Washington (>$172,500.00). 48 of them make more than the Vice President of the United States. Even with the cuts we propose, 32 of these administrators would still make more than the Governor of the State of Washington.
An estimated $2,356,040.00 could be saved by cutting 20% from the salaries of these 49 administrators. An estimated total of $4,716,470.00 could be saved just by cutting the salaries of the 70 administrators making over $200,000.00.
All would keep their positions and benefits.
Nobody would be fired.
Nobody would be forced to use food stamps and other tax-payer funded subsidies to survive.
We are hopeful that applying this cutting strategy across the board to all administrators in the system, along with a freeze on raises to these same personnel over the next 3 years , will generate well over half the amount needed to balance the budget ($5,000,000.00/year; $15,000,000.00/3 years, while also ensuring that:
Furthermore, we call for WSU administrators to publicly identify and cut other administrative overhead such as their own travel budgets, entertainment funds, start up allowances, and housing and relocation subsidies to balance the WSU budget.
As indicated above, WSU administrators have proposed cuts to some of the lowest paid employees in the university including staff at the multicultural student center, the entire faculty in theater, graduate student stipends in engineering, and from every academic program in the university. These cuts impact both instruction and essential support services for students. The cuts also risk forcing longtime university employees onto state and federal taxpayer-subsidized programs such as food stamps and Medicaid.
We believe that all university employees--from faculty to facilities workers--are entitled to a living wage. The cuts we propose to the top of the university administrative structure, still ensure that all administrators retain a healthy salary, and everyone at WSU keeps their position. With the cuts we propose, Washington State University sends a clear message that the university's primary responsibility is to support its threefold land grant mission: research, teaching, and service.
*We recognize that the salaries listed on http://fiscal.wa.gov/salaries.aspx may include internal and external grants and subsidies. This proposal is restricted only to salaries and internal WSU funding; we also recognize that not all administrative appointments are listed on this website.
Current Number of Signers: |