Last minute changes to Indiana budget could have big impacts
EVANSVILLE, Ind. (WFIE) - The Indiana state budget for the next two years passed the legislature overnight. Many people in the Tri-State woke up frustrated with what they learned.
“It’s a sad day,” said former Indiana University Trustee Pat Shoulders.
Shoulders is speaking out due to lines in the budget reworking the leadership at Indiana University.
Section 254 of the budget says the Governor may now remove a member of the board of trustees who was elected by the alumni, and appoint his own replacement. You can read that excerpt below:
“The governor may at any time remove and replace a member of the board of trustees who was elected by the alumni of Indiana University.
If the governor removes and replaces a member under this section, the new member appointed by the governor serves until the expiration of the term of the replaced member described in subsection (a).
If the governor does not remove and replace a member under this section, the member of the board of trustees elected by the alumni of Indiana University may serve until the member’s term expires.”
Previously, the nine person board was made up of six governor appointed members, and three elected by alumni. Now, Shoulders says all the power shifts to the government.
“I think it’s just utterly ridiculous,” Shoulders said. “What it does is cut off alumni input to their university. IU has about 800,000 living alumni, any one of whom was eligible to run for one of those seats. It’s a long tradition that has served that university well. This is nothing other than a power grab.”
Shoulders, who served on the board for nearly 20 years, says the state has taken away funding over the years, while grabbing more control.
“Many times the vote was eight to one, seven to two, but at least there was a descending voice and a robust discussion,” he said. “Those days are over.”
Outside of Bloomington, other last minute changes are hitting close to home.
WNIN learned 17% of their budget is now gone, after the state cut more than $440,000 for each of the next two years.
“I have been telling people who have been talking to me most of the day that it was a real gut punch,” said WNIN President and CEO Tim Black.
Black says they were assured, as recently as Tuesday, that their funding was secure. Now, with looming federal cuts too, he says it’s difficult to know what’s next.
“We’re certainly not closing our doors tomorrow, but it’s a big gap to cover,” Black said.
Black says when they lose out on this much money, the unfortunate truth is local programming is probably the first thing to get cut.
He says they’ll work hard to protect their staff, because they’re thin in that area as it is.
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