The proposed budget cuts and looming University concerns dominated the media briefing following Thursday’s Cabinet meeting.

Given Gov. Sonny Perdue’s recent proposal, University President Michael Adams said the budget does not appear to be as bad as expected.

“There are no places left to cut,” he said. “Any dollar we save now will be a dollar saved against the 2011 budget. The governor’s cuts are much more favorable to the University System than what the house proposed.”

Yet Adams said there are many things unknown.

The University does not yet know the final budget adjustments from the governor, nor does it know the Board of Regents appropriations or tuition increases for next year.

“This will create managing difficulties in April, and I suspect families will have issues,” Adams said.

But regardless, Adams said cuts can only go so far.

“To think that there would be another $60 million cut without significant harm to the number of programs is just not a reality,” he said. “The fact of the matter is there’s nothing left to cut.”

Adams said employees who have written to him about the budget situation don’t realize the number of jobs that have been saved.

“At some point, no one is going to support any reductions,” he said.

Adams said he does not know what the next cuts will be, but hopes the governor’s proposed budget will reduce cuts to a third of the $300 million cuts which have been already recommended to the University System.

Adams said if only a portion of the cuts are needed, the elimination of programs such as 4-H and other extension services must be taken into consideration.

“Everything is on the table as far as cuts,” Adams said. “If the question comes down to teaching or protecting auxiliaries, then we have to protect the core functions.”

Adams said he thinks the budget cuts won’t hurt graduates’ competitiveness in the job market.

“We’re not oblivious to the tough economic climate for job seekers, but I believe that we have quality students,” he said.

On the subject of furloughing, Adams said he wasn’t sure what the University plans to do.

“Opinions on furloughing are very mixed,” he said. “Some prefer salary cuts over furloughing, and some prefer furloughing over salary cuts.”

This year, the University had six furlough days.

When asked about pulling from the Athletic Association budget, Adams said the association budget is separate from the University’s budget.

The Athletic Association gave the University $2 million this year, which largely went toward faculty support.

“We’ve happily been able to keep two-thirds of faculty that have had [job] offers,” Adams said.

Though the University hasn’t laid off tenured faculty, there are 170 vacancies, including part-time faculty positions.

Adams said that as a result of decreased faculty, students may be forced to experience significantly larger class sizes while dealing with fewer class offerings.

“I want students to be immune to this process while students are here,” he said. “But there’s no decision left that doesn’t get to the bone given the size of adjustments. We simply have no choice but to do larger classes.”

But Adams said he’s impressed and proud of the many different ways students have been responding during these tough economic times.

“Generally, students have been respectful in how they have responded,” he said. “I don’t agree with everything with SGA — nor probably they with me — but I think they’ve been realistic.”

Adams spoke briefly on the HOPE Scholarship, stating it needed to stick to its core values.

“It was supposed to be a reward for those who work hard regardless of where they are on a socioeconomic level,” Adams said. “I think for now there are appropriate checks in place that should allow it to operate.

Adams said he doesn’t agree with the idea of moving to a need-based program for HOPE because it diminishes the philosophy.