This is not something new...cuts from the state have been going on for a few years now and this is and should have been predictable. I know I get long winded at times but I talked about this last year and even listed Western as one of most likely to see a bubble pop. As I said before you can not go just by how much (% wise) you school gets from students or the school. Larger schools can easily up that % by 1 to 5% and be a lot more healthy than a Western or Marshall or a S. Miss or Tech.

In a poor state like KY, you can not keep increasing college tuition every year. Western had years of growth (I believe 6 straight) in enrollment before two years ago. Enrollment started dropping 2015 or 2016 and its still projecting down . State funding has decreased for a lot longer than the decrease in enrollment.



Athletics has went up from 14.5 million in 2005 (pre-FBS) to 29.5 million last year with football increasing from around 3 million to 8.5 million. Western's basketball has went up from 1.3 million to a little over 2 million in that time. But doesn't tell the whole picture because both sports are in the black when it comes to funds generated. There's only one other sport at Western that comes close to paying it's way...Lady Toppers

Western has dropped at least 3 sports over the last few years...one was swimming/diving and that was a sport that produced championships. It also cost over 1 million a year to fund. Another sport that produced championships, Track and Field had it's budget cut close to 50%. Title Nine adds close to 50% of all of our budgets.

So I expect to see cuts in office help across the board before any cuts to sports. I think we just saw a $45k cut when UNCC hired away Western's media dept. I think you will see a few depts merged in that area and unfilled jobs will not be filled. It's not just the salary that's being cut it's also the benefits.

Below is the salary of Western's Director of Athletics
995719 William Joseph Monts Academic Advisor, Athletics 0.50 17,502.00

998565 Randall Wade Magill Assc Ath Dir/ Business Affairs 1.00 75,000.00

998566 John Daryl McCammon Associate Director 1.00 76,476.00

999998 James E. Clark Associate Director 0.14 13,132.27

999904 Ja'Shard Jamel Justice Asst Dir/Athletic Academic Adv 0.14 7,936.32

998101 Melisa Jeanette Schneider Asst to the Athletics Dir/SWA 1.00 53,904.00

997180 Lisa Ann Powers Business Operations Associate 1.00 31,212.00

998563 Deborah F. Carroll Business Operations Specialist 1.00 42,924.00

998564 Phyllis Kay Finch Compliance Ops Specialist 1.00 40,440.00

996629 Jennifer Lynn Wittenauer Coord, Athletic Compliance 1.00 40,008.00

998567 Todd M. Stewart Director 1.00 193,632.00

Total 592,166.59

By the time you add in benefits (SS, Ins, retirement, about 4 or 5 others) that total increases to almost double

In 2013-14 the total budget of Director of Athletics which includes a lot more than just salary and benefits was over 2.5 million dollars. Western spent around 2.1 million on mens basketball. Western's total athletic budget went from 27 mil to 29 mil

(02-27-2018 10:03 AM)CyrusJS Wrote:  There was a severe lack of funding of the state pension system. It was catastrophically bad. Bevin really has no other choice than to cut everything in the state budget. Yeah it sucks that WKU and education is getting cut, but this was a problem placed on him. He did not create this problem, so it is silly for everyone who blames him for this situation. It is a much better option than having the pension system without funding and people who will rely on the money to go without what they were promised/payed into.

I do not blame him entirely but the only way to solve this pension crisis is to create Revenue and redo the Tax code which he refuses to do...All of these items should be the same time not one with out the others......You have to think outside of the box instead of asking me to take a %3 paycut when I have had 2 raises in 10 years...

(02-27-2018 12:34 PM)WKUFan518 Wrote:  

(02-27-2018 10:03 AM)CyrusJS Wrote:  There was a severe lack of funding of the state pension system. It was catastrophically bad. Bevin really has no other choice than to cut everything in the state budget. Yeah it sucks that WKU and education is getting cut, but this was a problem placed on him. He did not create this problem, so it is silly for everyone who blames him for this situation. It is a much better option than having the pension system without funding and people who will rely on the money to go without what they were promised/payed into.

I do not blame him entirely but the only way to solve this pension crisis is to create Revenue and redo the Tax code which he refuses to do...All of these items should be the same time not one with out the others......You have to think outside of the box instead of asking me to take a %3 paycut when I have had 2 raises in 10 years...

Seems like a sweet deal considering the work hours you spend just on this one board...you expect a raise to go with it? Maybe the governor should cut a lot of jobs to part-time...

(02-27-2018 10:51 AM)Rojogrande Wrote:  

(02-27-2018 10:24 AM)Psychored Wrote:  

(02-27-2018 10:03 AM)CyrusJS Wrote:  There was a severe lack of funding of the state pension system. It was catastrophically bad. Bevin really has no other choice than to cut everything in the state budget. Yeah it sucks that WKU and education is getting cut, but this was a problem placed on him. He did not create this problem, so it is silly for everyone who blames him for this situation. It is a much better option than having the pension system without funding and people who will rely on the money to go without what they were promised/payed into.

Finally, someone gets it! Bevin, like Trump in some aspects, is dealing with what prior administrations failed to do. If Beshear had tightened the purse strings a little a few years back, the overall situation would be much better now. I'm on the Teacher Retirement pension so there is a little dread for what could come.

I completely understand what Bevin is trying to do and I support that. However, I do not think cutting education should be the solution to fixing that problem. There are other areas that could be cut or do what Colorado did and legalize marijuana to create an 8 billion dollar budget surplus just off the taxing of it.

Which goes back to what I am saying, create REVNUE! Make gambling legal in this state instead of me going to Indiana and spending money...Its not 1950 anymore, the state of good ole folk need to get over their line of thinking and join the 21st century...If we did so pension would be fully funded soon and not having to cut everything and pit teachers/state workers vs. taxpayers...Private sector hate us now but you have understand they get raises, WE DO NOT!

(02-27-2018 12:35 PM)WKUYG Wrote:  

(02-27-2018 12:34 PM)WKUFan518 Wrote:  

(02-27-2018 10:03 AM)CyrusJS Wrote:  There was a severe lack of funding of the state pension system. It was catastrophically bad. Bevin really has no other choice than to cut everything in the state budget. Yeah it sucks that WKU and education is getting cut, but this was a problem placed on him. He did not create this problem, so it is silly for everyone who blames him for this situation. It is a much better option than having the pension system without funding and people who will rely on the money to go without what they were promised/payed into.

I do not blame him entirely but the only way to solve this pension crisis is to create Revenue and redo the Tax code which he refuses to do...All of these items should be the same time not one with out the others......You have to think outside of the box instead of asking me to take a %3 paycut when I have had 2 raises in 10 years...

Seems like a sweet deal considering the work hours you spend just on this one board...you expect a raise to go with it? Maybe the governor should cut a lot of jobs to part-time...

Yes I am sure I am the only person working who takes breaks on this board...

(02-27-2018 12:36 PM)WKUFan518 Wrote:  

(02-27-2018 10:51 AM)Rojogrande Wrote:  

(02-27-2018 10:24 AM)Psychored Wrote:  

(02-27-2018 10:03 AM)CyrusJS Wrote:  There was a severe lack of funding of the state pension system. It was catastrophically bad. Bevin really has no other choice than to cut everything in the state budget. Yeah it sucks that WKU and education is getting cut, but this was a problem placed on him. He did not create this problem, so it is silly for everyone who blames him for this situation. It is a much better option than having the pension system without funding and people who will rely on the money to go without what they were promised/payed into.

Finally, someone gets it! Bevin, like Trump in some aspects, is dealing with what prior administrations failed to do. If Beshear had tightened the purse strings a little a few years back, the overall situation would be much better now. I'm on the Teacher Retirement pension so there is a little dread for what could come.

I completely understand what Bevin is trying to do and I support that. However, I do not think cutting education should be the solution to fixing that problem. There are other areas that could be cut or do what Colorado did and legalize marijuana to create an 8 billion dollar budget surplus just off the taxing of it.

Which goes back to what I am saying, create REVNUE! Make gambling legal in this state instead of me going to Indiana and spending money...Its not 1950 anymore, the state of good ole folk need to get over their line of thinking and join the 21st century...If we did so pension would be fully funded soon and not having to cut everything and pit teachers/state workers vs. taxpayers...Private sector hate us now but you have understand they get raises, WE DO NOT!

Gambling does not solve anything...look at Mississippi.

(02-27-2018 01:13 PM)goldeneagle21 Wrote:  

(02-27-2018 12:36 PM)WKUFan518 Wrote:  

(02-27-2018 10:51 AM)Rojogrande Wrote:  

(02-27-2018 10:24 AM)Psychored Wrote:  

(02-27-2018 10:03 AM)CyrusJS Wrote:  There was a severe lack of funding of the state pension system. It was catastrophically bad. Bevin really has no other choice than to cut everything in the state budget. Yeah it sucks that WKU and education is getting cut, but this was a problem placed on him. He did not create this problem, so it is silly for everyone who blames him for this situation. It is a much better option than having the pension system without funding and people who will rely on the money to go without what they were promised/payed into.

Finally, someone gets it! Bevin, like Trump in some aspects, is dealing with what prior administrations failed to do. If Beshear had tightened the purse strings a little a few years back, the overall situation would be much better now. I'm on the Teacher Retirement pension so there is a little dread for what could come.

I completely understand what Bevin is trying to do and I support that. However, I do not think cutting education should be the solution to fixing that problem. There are other areas that could be cut or do what Colorado did and legalize marijuana to create an 8 billion dollar budget surplus just off the taxing of it.

Which goes back to what I am saying, create REVNUE! Make gambling legal in this state instead of me going to Indiana and spending money...Its not 1950 anymore, the state of good ole folk need to get over their line of thinking and join the 21st century...If we did so pension would be fully funded soon and not having to cut everything and pit teachers/state workers vs. taxpayers...Private sector hate us now but you have understand they get raises, WE DO NOT!

Gambling does not solve anything...look at Mississippi.

Recreational cannabis

(02-27-2018 01:26 PM)MTPiKapp Wrote:  

(02-27-2018 01:13 PM)goldeneagle21 Wrote:  

(02-27-2018 12:36 PM)WKUFan518 Wrote:  

(02-27-2018 10:51 AM)Rojogrande Wrote:  

(02-27-2018 10:24 AM)Psychored Wrote:  Finally, someone gets it! Bevin, like Trump in some aspects, is dealing with what prior administrations failed to do. If Beshear had tightened the purse strings a little a few years back, the overall situation would be much better now. I'm on the Teacher Retirement pension so there is a little dread for what could come.

I completely understand what Bevin is trying to do and I support that. However, I do not think cutting education should be the solution to fixing that problem. There are other areas that could be cut or do what Colorado did and legalize marijuana to create an 8 billion dollar budget surplus just off the taxing of it.

Which goes back to what I am saying, create REVNUE! Make gambling legal in this state instead of me going to Indiana and spending money...Its not 1950 anymore, the state of good ole folk need to get over their line of thinking and join the 21st century...If we did so pension would be fully funded soon and not having to cut everything and pit teachers/state workers vs. taxpayers...Private sector hate us now but you have understand they get raises, WE DO NOT!

Gambling does not solve anything...look at Mississippi.

Recreational cannabis

I don't smoke and never have but the pot laws are plain stupid. Should be treated the same as alcoholic and cigs...... made legal and taxed hard

No one can make me believe Pot is any more dangerous or costly than those two. But it's billions that could be added to the state. Not only the taxes but jobs and the new taxes off those

clt says WKU needs to drop that copier machine. And why are you paying for a turn signal?

(02-27-2018 08:26 AM)ghostofclt Wrote:  

(02-27-2018 08:15 AM)Hilltop75 Wrote:  In addition to the decreasing enrollment trend. Every year the Governor of Kentucky keeps gutting the budgets of all the state colleges in Kentucky

clt asks what is happening? Charlotte is seeing the opposite with increasing enrollment and quality of applicant.

Is this just a Kentucky issue?

This is a coal country issue, if the state relies on coal revenue for the budget, and that declines, then cuts will be made across the board. It has affected Marshall too, MU has reduced it somewhat but still had to make budget cuts. It wouldn't affect schools like Rice that isn't a state school (if they were in coal country). This would apply to any state that has a piss poor economy.

Does "clt" stand for "curiously lame texts" ?

(02-27-2018 02:03 PM)TOPSTRAIGHT Wrote:  Does "clt" stand for "curiously lame texts" ?

(02-27-2018 01:32 PM)WKUYG Wrote:  

(02-27-2018 01:26 PM)MTPiKapp Wrote:  Recreational cannabis

I don't smoke and never have but the pot laws are plain stupid. Should be treated the same as alcoholic and cigs...... made legal and taxed hard

No one can make me believe Pot is any more dangerous or costly than those two. But it's billions that could be added to the state. Not only the taxes but jobs and the new taxes off those

The prohibition/war on cannabis has a long and dark history, fueled by racism, fear mongering, and blatant misinformation and subsequently funded by big tobacco and big pharma, both of which are protecting their own financial interest.

I don't fault those that were once swayed by all that, but how anyone in 2018(let alone the attorney general) can still believe decriminalization, at mimimum, isn't just common sense blows my mind. Nevermind the hypocrisy of the party of states rights not at least making this 100% states rights issue, but Sessions is fighting to move backwards on this.

But hey YG, let's just take a moment to acknowledge this rare common ground, eh?

(02-27-2018 02:03 PM)TOPSTRAIGHT Wrote:  Does "clt" stand for "curiously lame texts" ?

clt says that was pretty clever. you should teach humour at a Kentucky middle school.

(02-27-2018 08:40 AM)freshtop Wrote:  

(02-27-2018 08:26 AM)ghostofclt Wrote:  

(02-27-2018 08:15 AM)Hilltop75 Wrote:  In addition to the decreasing enrollment trend. Every year the Governor of Kentucky keeps gutting the budgets of all the state colleges in Kentucky

clt asks what is happening? Charlotte is seeing the opposite with increasing enrollment and quality of applicant.

Is this just a Kentucky issue?

Our Gov is a bit of a tool. I can almost respect that he is treating the state like a business and trying to make cuts to get out of the red. On the other hand, he is cutting education hard (he keeps pretending that he isn't, but when you cut the legs out from under education, you are cutting education).

Understatement of the century. He's no Mitch Daniels but thinks he is. Long term viable budgets require investments (like selling roads to multinational firms like Indiana did, subsidizing green energy, etc.) instead of just slashing. He shows no vision and cares not how he's viewed because he's got the votes, apparently, amazingly. Dude has a vendetta against higher education that borders on malicious.

(02-28-2018 11:12 AM)BKTopper Wrote:  

(02-27-2018 08:40 AM)freshtop Wrote:  

(02-27-2018 08:26 AM)ghostofclt Wrote:  

(02-27-2018 08:15 AM)Hilltop75 Wrote:  In addition to the decreasing enrollment trend. Every year the Governor of Kentucky keeps gutting the budgets of all the state colleges in Kentucky

clt asks what is happening? Charlotte is seeing the opposite with increasing enrollment and quality of applicant.

Is this just a Kentucky issue?

Our Gov is a bit of a tool. I can almost respect that he is treating the state like a business and trying to make cuts to get out of the red. On the other hand, he is cutting education hard (he keeps pretending that he isn't, but when you cut the legs out from under education, you are cutting education).

Understatement of the century. He's no Mitch Daniels but thinks he is. Long term viable budgets require investments (like selling roads to multinational firms like Indiana did, subsidizing green energy, etc.) instead of just slashing. He shows no vision and cares not how he's viewed because he's got the votes, apparently, amazingly. Dude has a vendetta against higher education that borders on malicious.

Because he wants charter schools to overtake public schools to make money for him and his cronies...The guy doesn't care about government either....I am a moderate Republican and thinks he sucks...

(02-27-2018 10:51 AM)Rojogrande Wrote:  

(02-27-2018 10:24 AM)Psychored Wrote:  

(02-27-2018 10:03 AM)CyrusJS Wrote:  There was a severe lack of funding of the state pension system. It was catastrophically bad. Bevin really has no other choice than to cut everything in the state budget. Yeah it sucks that WKU and education is getting cut, but this was a problem placed on him. He did not create this problem, so it is silly for everyone who blames him for this situation. It is a much better option than having the pension system without funding and people who will rely on the money to go without what they were promised/payed into.

Finally, someone gets it! Bevin, like Trump in some aspects, is dealing with what prior administrations failed to do. If Beshear had tightened the purse strings a little a few years back, the overall situation would be much better now. I'm on the Teacher Retirement pension so there is a little dread for what could come.

I completely understand what Bevin is trying to do and I support that. However, I do not think cutting education should be the solution to fixing that problem. There are other areas that could be cut or do what Colorado did and legalize marijuana to create an 8 billion dollar budget surplus just off the taxing of it.

Or legalize gambling somewhat.

(02-27-2018 08:15 AM)Hilltop75 Wrote:  In addition to the decreasing enrollment trend. Every year the Governor of Kentucky keeps gutting the budgets of all the state colleges in Kentucky

Funding from the state has gone down about $10M over the past 5 years and it will probably go down in April when the new state budget comes out. In addition to the funding cuts, the state has also made moves to increase expenses for higher education. The candle is being burned at both ends. Decreased rev and increased exp.

(02-27-2018 01:54 PM)beefcake0520 Wrote:  

(02-27-2018 08:26 AM)ghostofclt Wrote:  

(02-27-2018 08:15 AM)Hilltop75 Wrote:  In addition to the decreasing enrollment trend. Every year the Governor of Kentucky keeps gutting the budgets of all the state colleges in Kentucky

clt asks what is happening? Charlotte is seeing the opposite with increasing enrollment and quality of applicant.

Is this just a Kentucky issue?

This is a coal country issue, if the state relies on coal revenue for the budget, and that declines, then cuts will be made across the board. It has affected Marshall too, MU has reduced it somewhat but still had to make budget cuts. It wouldn't affect schools like Rice that isn't a state school (if they were in coal country). This would apply to any state that has a piss poor economy.

Cutting higher ed seems like a short term solution that will create a long term problem. Without an educated workforce it will be difficult to attract new industries.

(02-27-2018 01:32 PM)WKUYG Wrote:  

(02-27-2018 01:26 PM)MTPiKapp Wrote:  

(02-27-2018 01:13 PM)goldeneagle21 Wrote:  

(02-27-2018 12:36 PM)WKUFan518 Wrote:  

(02-27-2018 10:51 AM)Rojogrande Wrote:  I completely understand what Bevin is trying to do and I support that. However, I do not think cutting education should be the solution to fixing that problem. There are other areas that could be cut or do what Colorado did and legalize marijuana to create an 8 billion dollar budget surplus just off the taxing of it.

Which goes back to what I am saying, create REVNUE! Make gambling legal in this state instead of me going to Indiana and spending money...Its not 1950 anymore, the state of good ole folk need to get over their line of thinking and join the 21st century...If we did so pension would be fully funded soon and not having to cut everything and pit teachers/state workers vs. taxpayers...Private sector hate us now but you have understand they get raises, WE DO NOT!

Gambling does not solve anything...look at Mississippi.

Recreational cannabis

I don't smoke and never have but the pot laws are plain stupid. Should be treated the same as alcoholic and cigs...... made legal and taxed hard

No one can make me believe Pot is any more dangerous or costly than those two. But it's billions that could be added to the state. Not only the taxes but jobs and the new taxes off those

wouldn't legalizing and taxing meth create even more revenue in Kentucky? from what I've read, y'all would become one of the richest states overnight