Following up on a recent lead, The Terrapin Times inquired with Julie Phelps, Comptroller of the University of Maryland, about the occupational and budget status of her department. In these strenuous budget times, the entire campus community is affected by budget cuts, including the Office of the Comptroller, which employs approximately 130 workers.

According to Phelps, the office was forced by budget constraints to cut three senior level positions. She explained, “The three positions that were cut resulted from two resignations and one retirement.” To compliment these cuts, lower level employees were promoted and given subsequent raises. Those promotions were accompanied by salary increases appropriate to the increased level and volume of work assumed,” said Phelps. She further explained, “[I]n other words, fewer employees are doing more work.”

Sophomore John Samsock felt differently. He expressed his opinion on the Phelps’ commentary by asking, “- so does that mean our taxes were being wasted or at least not properly utilized before?”

After promoting the employees, the Office of the Comptroller treated them with special lunches to celebrate. Phelps explained further that the luncheons were simply thanking the newly promoted employees for taking on more work. Over four months, there were three of these luncheons totaling $248.87, which covered 20 employees, 11 of which were recently promoted employees. She justified this action by explaining that it was “…to reward them for their hard work and for their willingness to take on more responsibility.” This luncheon was on the operating budget according to Phelps. She explained her concern that as “…rumors of lay-offs and furloughs are rampant, it is calming to an operation to make something good from something bad – i.e., jobs are eliminated, but for less expense other jobs can be upgraded.”

Sophomore Samsock commented, “Well, common sense would imply that if you could do something for less expense, then you do so. You’d think the Office of the Comptroller would be especially familiar with this concept of operation.”

Phelps noted that the Office of the Comptroller has been lucky. “So far, we have not had to lay-off any employees from my offices.” During the past year, the Office of the Comptroller did successfully cope with a $355,521 reduction to their budget. “However, it does not seem that we will be so fortunate in FY 2004,” said Phelps.

Editors Note: We’d like to thank Ms. Phelps for her prompt and forthright responses. The Office of Comptroller can be found online at, http://fas.umd.edu/