Sask. post-secondary facing $9.3M in funding cuts

Saskatchewan's universities are figuring out how to handle a budget cut with just a few months left in their fiscal years.

The province released its mid-year financial update Tuesday, and with it came $11.7 million of cuts to the Ministry of Advanced Education.

• Sask. now projects $1B deficit for 2016-17

The cuts include $9.3 million of reduced grants to post-secondary institutions, $1.5 million of money not yet allocated for preventative maintenance and renewal funding, $400,000 to post-secondary projects and $500,000 in administrative costs.

As for the institutions themselves, the University of Saskatchewan will see reductions of $5 million, the University of Regina will see $1.7 million, Saskatchewan Polytechnic faces $1.8 million and all other institutions will see $800,000.

U of R to look for more savings

University of Regina President and Vice-Chancellor Vianne Timmons said while they understand the financial situation the province is currently in, facing a cut now is especially challenging.

"To get the cut and absorb it within three months of an academic year, that's all we have left. It's going to be tough."

The university faces a $1.1-million reduction to its operating budget, a $300,000 clawback of a Workers' Compensation Board surplus rebate and a $275,000 cut to preventative maintenance.

Timmons said the U of R hasn't received sufficient funding to balance its budget in the last few years. Increased enrolmenthelped the university absorb cuts last year, but Timmons said that likely won't happen this time.

"Every year we've gone in, looking for efficiencies and areas we can cut, and this will be another one."

If savings can't be found, Timmons said the university may have to go to its campuses to claw back funding.

Timmons said the overall goal will be to make sure there is minimal impact to students, staff and faculty due to the cuts.

U of S to draw from reserves

At the University of Saskatchewan, the $5 million reduction is one that Michael Atkinson said can be absorbed out of the institution's reserves.

"This is why we have some reserves, to avoid that kind of forced deficit situation," said the interim provost and vice-president of academics.

The university faces a $3.1-million reduction to its operating budget, a $1.2-million clawback of a Workers' Compensation Board surplus rebate and a $720,000 cut to preventative maintenance.

Atkinson also acknowledged the difficult situation the province is in financially, but he said he doesn't think universities will suffer down the road.

"There would be a concern if this was a long-term cut to the institution. But as we understand it, this is a one-time reduction in our budget for the fiscal year."