 |
|
|
Sea Grant looking at budget reductions
By SUSAN WEST  Michael
Voiland, executive director of the North Carolina Sea Grant program,
said last month he is developing a contingency plan to restructure the
program under budget constraints. He said the plan could include closing extension offices in Manteo and Wilmington and consolidating field staff into one central coastal office, as well as staff changes at the program’s administrative offices in Raleigh. “From what I see right now, we have just enough money to keep people employed and the offices running through late next year,” Voiland said. “If we have another mandated state salary increase or another cut in federal funds, we’ll have to make changes,” he noted. The program receives around $763,000 from the North Carolina General Assembly. “We’ve gotten the same amount for the past 12 budget years, even though we’ve had to absorb at least three state salary increases during that time,” Voiland explained. Although the program started in 1970, Sea Grant is considered a temporary, grant-based program and doesn’t automatically receive increases in state funds. Sea Grant has turned to federal funds to cover the salary increases, but money from the National Sea Grant Program at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration was reduced to $1.55 million this year. “Research, outreach, fellowships, and other components suffer,” said Voiland. He said the program now funds just 15 research projects when it funded as many as 30 in the past. Research projects at schools in the state university system focus on fisheries and aquaculture, seafood science, coastal construction, water quality and habitat, and other coastal issues. Outreach programs include working with coastal citizens and government agencies on land-use planning, seafood technology, and public waterfront access. “It’s ironic that we are considering major changes at a time when there’s never been higher interest in coastal issues or higher expectations for Sea Grant, “ said Voiland. The North Carolina Marine Fisheries Commission is asking the General Assembly to provide additional funds to the program. For more information about Sea Grant and its programs, go to its Web site, http://ncseagrant.org. 
 |
|
|
|