Wilbur Cross, where the UConn Bursurs office is housed is where many decisions about the budget allocation are made. File Photo.
Governor Lamont has made a recent proposal to decrease the budget allocated to the University of Connecticut in FY 2021 by $2,602,599.
In Lamont’s new plan, the funding UConn receives from the state would decrease from $211,250,337 of the previous fiscal year to the new value of $208,647,738. Stephanie Reitz, University Spokesperson, said this funding will help continue to provide UConn’s education at an attainable price.
“This support will help us to continue to provide a high-quality education at a competitive economic value to Connecticut students, conduct vital research, deliver the very best patient care and support the state’s workforce and economic development needs,” Reitz said.
With Lamont’s new budget, UConn Health will receive an allocation of $33.2 million of funding, a substantial amount, but a value that Reitz recognizes will not completely cover the expenses of the program.
“We are also thankful that the proposal includes $33.2 million to help cover the burden of the state’s unfunded legacy costs that are charged to UConn Health, which will total $52.3 million in FY 21,” Reitz said. “At the same time, the $19.1 million shortfall in funding that remains will pose a serious challenge to UConn Health’s ability to end FY 2021 without a significant deficit.”
Reitz said UConn Health deserves the extra funding, and the extra funding would help the program maintain a positive bottom line. She pointed out that UConn Health as a program not only helps UConn, but also positively impacts Connecticut as a whole.
“The reality is that UConn Health is a vibrant, high-performing asset for the state and can continue to succeed, grow and thrive,” Reitz said.
Despite the budget falling short in this area, Reitz said that the plan is not set in stone. The UConn administration will be working to try to cover this difference.
“We are hopeful that the state will apply additional funding as the budget moves through the legislative process to meet these legacy costs in the year ahead,” Reitz said. “We will work with the administration and the General Assembly in the coming months in an effort to achieve this.”
Thomas Alvarez is a campus correspondent for The Daily Campus. He can be reached via email at thomas.alvarez@uconn.edu.
