Campus Planning and Facilities Management (CPFM) at The University of Texas at Austin has begun implementing plans to cut about $3.1 million from expenditures to contribute to the university’s $14.6 million reduction in annual recurring expenditures.
Two CPFM departments, Facilities Services and Project Management and Construction Services (PMCS), announced today (July 20) elimination of 17 filled positions, effective Sept. 19, and 60 vacant positions. The other three units, Utilities and Energy Management (UEM), Technology Resources and Campus Planning departments, are each eliminating one vacant position.
Facilities Services is eliminating 16 filled positions in its Event and Moving Services, Solid Waste and Facilities Maintenance units based on workload and industry standards for staffing. PMCS is closing its cabinet shop, resulting in elimination of one filled position.
“We began the planning and review process necessary to implement budget reduction strategies several months ago,” said Steve Kraal, senior associate vice president for CPFM. “We are also consolidating facilities management operations handled on both the Main Campus and Pickle Research Campus, and taking other steps to achieve savings in our daily operations. UEM is reducing overtime and funding for equipment upgrades and replacements. However, because labor is our largest cost, all of these and other cost-cutting measures carried out or planned for the coming months don’t reduce our costs enough to avoid eliminating positions.”
The university began last summer to address budgetary challenges. With little or no budget growth expected, departments are reducing expenditures and strategically re-allocating resources.
“As we look for additional opportunities to save costs, we will continue seeking the most efficient and effective ways to deliver our core services to the university community,” Kraal said.
View the university’s budget reduction plan (PDF) for 2010-11.
