ENMU regents approve school's operating budget

PORTALES — It took multiple motions, but the Eastern New Mexico University Board of Regents ultimately approved the school's operating budget for the upcoming fiscal year during Friday's meeting.

Regent Lance Pyle first motioned to approved the budget without a 4 percent increase to fees, about $200,000 which was approved by the board in December, prior to the appointments of Pyle and student regent Joseph Gergel.

"I've shared with several of you, I have a problem with fees," Pyle said. "I think fees need to be the last thing we look at increasing. That hits the students, that hits the families the hardest."

Scott Smart, vice president of business affairs, said the revenue from the fees, which are in part a matter of contingency for the university, could be set aside for a pair of $2 million projects for Bernalillo Hall and Eddy Hall which would be unlikely to receive state funding.

"I think we have to look at your thoughts in context of the cost of attendance at ENMU. New Mexico schools in general because we have been so blessed with a strong state support, our tuition and fee rates in New Mexico might be the lowest in the country," Smart said.

Jeff Elwell, president of ENMU-Portales and chancellor of the three-college system, said if the fees were altered in the budget then 1,920 financial aid packages which have been sent out to prospective students would need to be redone.

"I think a lot of work has been put into this budget, I don't see any real fat into it because there are unexpected consequences and unexpected items coming up," Regent Dan Patterson said.

Gergel sought to limit the fee increase to 2 percent.

"I worry that this decision will be made due to a matter of convenience," Gergel said. "Heck I'll even go to financial aid to help them repackage the materials ... When we've been so successful and expenses have only increased by less than 2 percent, it seems reasonable to not have a fee increase by 4 percent."

"I don't make my recommendation based upon convenience," Patterson replied. "I make it based upon 40-some years of running budgets and the need to have the ability to anticipate the unexpected."

Pyle ultimately rescinded his original motion and motioned to approve the budget as presented, provided that the board does not increase fees for the next school year.

The Portales university's total operating budget for the upcoming fiscal year is $62.23 million, a 1.96 percent increase from last year. The biggest increase came from the 4 percent salary increase approved by the Legislature, of which the state will fund $838,000 and the university will fund around $400,000.

Also during Friday’s meeting:

• The board approved the issuance of a Request for Proposal to elicit bids for architecture and engineering for the design of a new president's residence to be used as a public meeting space for guests and private home for the president.

ENMU received $650,000 from the Legislature to put towards a new president's residence during the most recent session.

• Elwell discussed the university's efforts at gender equity in athletics. Elwell said currently ENMU will employ roster management to do this, adding 35 additional female athletes and reducing male athletes by 27.

Elwell said the university may still need to add a female sport in the future to further the gender equity efforts, with women's golf or beach volleyball suggested as possibilities.

• The board approved emeritus status for five retiring faculty members — Tom Brown, Romelia Hurtado de Vivas, Janeice Scarbrough, Dale Streeter and Patricia Whitney — who completed a combined total of 75 years of service with the university.