Upkeep a challenge with cuts

Despite ongoing difficulties brought on by budget cuts, the outlook for the IU Physical Plant is relatively positive. Some employees were laid off earlier this year, but officials say more layoffs are unlikely.\nThe work of the plant is necessary to the University, especially the maintenance of buildings, said Jim Koryta, the senior electrical engineer for the Physical Plant.\nHe said it is necessary to keep buildings in good working order as a preservation effort which will save the University money in the long run. \n"If you polish your shoes once in a while they're going to last longer," Koryta said.\nBut it is difficult to have pristine quality facilities without money to fund the work.\nThe annual Indiana Association of Physical Plant Administrators conference was held in Bloomington last February. During the convention, facilities managers discussed the topic of how they are responding to the state budget crisis.\nWondering how the maintenance of IU facilities will continue, Koryta said, "It's a little depressing. It's a problem if we're not getting the money from the state."\nThe Physical Plant's role is to provide many services on campus for the IU Bloomington community. Those services include maintenance, repair and minor renovation of buildings and facilities; grounds care; utility distribution (water, heat, electricity, etc.); custodial care; and many more. According to the plant's Web site, "Our goal is to provide these services in a way that is timely, effective and cost conscious."\nLinda Michael, an associate director for the Physical Plant, said the plant is still working to overcome budget cuts, but progress is being made.\n"We're still trying to cut some of our overhead costs as much as we can. We're reorganizing some of the divisions," Michael said.\nThe 2001-2002 budget is $47.5 million. The largest percentage of the budget goes toward purchased fuel and utilities ($19.3 million). The custodial service, which maintains nearly seven million square feet of land, is housed under the Building Services Division. This division's budget for 2001-2002 was $8.9 million. In the past year the custodial services were cut, but the plan is to restore those services \nin the coming year, \nMichael said.\nAbout 250 calls are received each day of the year. The telephone line is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. There is a limited staff on hand for service calls from 5 p.m. until 8 a.m. The IU Physical Plant has a staff of about 700 full-time workers. Michael said there have been some lay-offs, but she does not foresee any more in the future.