Florida senate begins voting on Florida university budget cuts today, USF students plan rally

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - The fate of the University of South Florida’s budget will be a major focal point at the state capitol Thursday morning.

Florida senators are expected to debate and vote on the $400 million budget cut proposal to Florida university systems--- $78 million of that money is expected to come out of USF’s budget.

 Senator JD Alexander, the budget chairman behind the proposal, was accused of unfairly targeting USF.

The initial proposal of $103 million in cuts was reduced after Senator Jim Norman along with other senators persuaded the senate committee to remove a stipulation with USF Polytechnic, shaving $25 million off the cut.

But students don’t plan on letting any decisions be made without their voices being heard.

While the senate prepares to vote, members of USF student government are working to collect 1,500 signatures against the proposals that would cut the university’s budget by 60 percent.

The letters will be hand delivered to legislators in Tallahassee.

In an effort to further cushion the financial blow, Senator Jim Norman also filed amendments to the proposal, asking that $6 million be restored to the pharmacy program and $16 million to faculty and staff, diminishing the cut to $50 million instead.

After Alexander met with USF President Judy Genshaft Monday, the two parties said that they were working toward a compromise.

Norman believes the amendments would make USF’s budget cuts more proportionate with the rest of Florida’s universities cuts.

If an agreement can’t be reached today, they will resume the budget meeting Friday.

As the Florida senate’s day winds down, The USF student government will hold a campus rally to Save USF at 7:00 p.m.