Suggestions for budget cuts posted on campus intranet site by Joni Maxwell The Ranger News Editor

A myriad of proposed cuts reducing excess spending can be found on the AC intranet site, available only at on-campus computers.

The site -- http://acweb.actx.edu/budget.htm -- organizes faculty and staff opinion on what expenses could be trimmed to adjust to the state budget deficit.

Neil Moseley, vice president for business affairs, said about $2 million will be cut between shifting costs and state funds.

"We're obviously looking at facilities, supplies and some personnel," said Ev Avara, director of college relations.

Possibly replacing fliers with phone messages and e-mail is one suggestion to decrease paper costs. Paid cell phones for faculty also may be cut. Minor energy restrictions, such as turning off lights in empty rooms and conservative air conditioning use, may be required.

A few money-saving devices already are in effect. The state is shifting costs of employee insurance to the college, and travel is limited. A hiring freeze is in place, but Moseley said faculty should not worry about losing their jobs. A freeze on buying new equipment also is in place.

Departmental cuts don't occupy the minds of students such as Jason Rodin, a psychology major. Raising tuition is a possibility, and Rodin reacted, "How much are they going to raise it? There's a difference between 2 and 20 percent." Increasing tuition isn't mentioned on the Intranet site, but there is a suggestion of creating an advance registration credit based on month of registration. The example given in the list is $2 per hour registration credit in June and $1 for registering in July.

"Students can expect to know what will be implemented in one to three weeks," Avara said.

The nine-person executive committee will deliberate in coming weeks on which cuts are most positive. Moseley said the legislative session should be done by June, and then the school will know how much money will be appropriated by the state.

"Some of these suggestions are made by people who don't understand," said Mike Duval, AC police chief.

Having more officers on foot or bicycle and reducing staff are measures that Duval said "on the surface sound good but are seriously flawed."

"We are making every effort to minimize impact on student services," Moseley said.