UMN Regent Sviggum wants more tough decisions in budget

University of Minnesota president Robert Bruininks presented his 2012 budget to the board of regents today.  It's provisional at this point.  The budget impasse at the Capitol means no one knows for sure how much the U will get in state aid next year.

The budget assumes a big cut in future funding.  To make up for the reduction the budget raises tuition, cuts funding for programs and freezes wages.

Regent Steve Sviggum doesn't think the budget proposal goes far enough to control costs. Sviggum, a former Speaker of the Minnesota House, told Bruininks a hiring freeze is in order.

"At least come back to us on June 20th and say we're going to have a freeze on non-teaching and non-research positions, on a minimum that."

The board of regents will vote on the 2012 budget on June 20th.

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