Move to save Md. $16M; College Park campus won’t close for a day
The University System of Maryland is expected to finish approving furlough plans today for its 15 institutions, in a move that would save the state about $16 million, system spokesman John Buettner said.
With the state facing a projected revenue shortfall this fiscal year of more than $400 million, Gov. Martin O’Malley last week ordered furloughs for about 67,000 state employees, which would save the state an expected $34 million. The institutions in the university system have followed suit, moving quickly over the past week to negotiate with workers unions. The schools drew up plans separate from the governor’s that the Board of Regents must approve.
The board approved plans first for the University of Maryland, College Park, which had to save nearly $7 million through salary cuts. President C. Dan Mote Jr. had feared he would have to close the campus for a day, but under the approved plan, it will not close. Employees can also take half-day furloughs to spread out lost pay over several pay periods.
“What is equitable and fair is in the eye of the beholder,” Mote wrote in an e-mail to the campus community. “However, consultations and inputs from across our community have helped us come to a general conclusion of what is fair and equitable treatment. That is the foundation of the plan.”
The plan calls for employees to take up to five unpaid days off depending on their salary. Employees earning $90,000 or more will take five days off; those earning less than $29,999 will not take any. Mote will take six.
At Mote’s 2007-2008 salary of about $463,000, six unpaid days off would save the state nearly $10,700.
The board approved plans Tuesday for employees at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore and the University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute.
The remaining institutions have submitted plans to the office of William “Brit” Kirwan, chancellor of the university system, and officials hoped to approve them today, Buettner said.
System office employees will also take furloughs under an approved plan similar to the College Park school’s plan.
“But an important quality of our campus, one that has always inspired me, has been the way it comes together as a community to take on challenges of all kinds,” Mote wrote. “Whether it is Maryland Day and living-learning programs, or a tornado strike and a 9/11 response, the community spirit at Maryland is remarkably strong.”
