Many SUNY campuses are estimating their budgets will be millions of dollars short next year after a state history of underfunding higher education, declining enrollment, high inflation and hardships from the COVID-19 pandemic as one-time federal coronavirus aid runs out. "Now, as the federal money, you know, will run out, now it's time for the state to pick up its responsibility to take care of these institutions so that the mission can be performed," United University Professions President Frederick Kowal said. SUNY Oneonta is expected to have a deficit just under $2 million, with SUNY Fredonia grappling with a gap as high as $16 million, according to UUP.
