FVSU Faces $5.2 Million Budget Deficit - FVSU Review

At a time when most University System of Georgia institutions are reporting declining enrollments for fall 2012, Fort Valley State University has experienced a 400-student drop, leaving the university facing serious budget issues. Due to a variety of factors, the total deficit for FY2013 could reach as high as $5.2 million. Accordingly, the university is compelled to make $3.8 million in immediate cuts in order to stay on track to maintain a balanced budget as required by law, FVSU President Dr. Larry E. Rivers announced. "I thought this meeting was extremely important," Rivers stated during a session with faculty, staff and administrators in the Pettigrew Center auditorium on Sept. 11. "This is information I wanted you to see firsthand in the spirit of transparency." Rivers told the audience that FVSU conservatively budgeted for 3,800 full time-equivalent (FTE) students for the fall semester. Actual FTE enrollment ranged between 3,300 and 3,400, even though more than 3,500 students are registered and paid. The student shortfall—along with a unanticipated 5 percent call-back in state appropriations,special funding, auditor-mandated adjustments in summer term accounting and the funding of uncollected student accounts, adds up to a potential budget-deficit impact of $5,234,821 for the academic year. http://review.fvsu.edu/index.php/i-love-fvsu/1316