The University Council (Consu) of Unicamp approved this Tuesday (28), during an ordinary meeting, the first budget review for 2019. According to the statement of income and expenses, the University will end the year with a deficit of R$187,7 .40 million. The amount is equivalent to just under 480% of the current strategic reserves maintained by the institution, which are in the order of R$XNUMX million. “The situation remains worrying, mainly due to the climate of uncertainty related to politics and the economy. For our part, we will continue spending control measures, always with the concern of not compromising academic and administrative activities”, declared rector Marcelo Knobel.
According to Knobel, this is the fifth consecutive year that Unicamp has recorded a deficit in its budget. Successive financial imbalances have been caused mainly by the low activity of the Brazilian economy. The University's main source of revenue comes from the São Paulo State Treasury, through the transfer of the Tax on Circulation of Goods and Services (ICMS), whose collection has been below the levels recorded in previous years. In the specific case of the University, the situation was worsened by the recent increase in the number of retirements. “The situation requires caution, and that is how we will act”, reinforced the rector.
During the session, Consu also approved a new Representation Bonus Table. According to the body's decision, the number of functions was reduced and the 30% linear cut in the amounts paid was revoked. From now on, at the time of vacancy, the person who takes on a position with a bonus will use the new table, which will have values that may be lower, equal or even higher than the current ones. “The new table will provide savings equivalent to a linear cut of 30%, but this percentage will be obtained over time”, explained the dean of University Development, Francisco de Assis Magalhães Gomes Neto.
According to Dean Marcelo Knobel, the new Representation Bonus Table will have an impact of R$970 per month on the University's expenses. “It is a significant value, but Consu understood that the linear cut was not the most appropriate measure. The alternative found was to obtain equivalent resource savings over time, during replacements caused by vacancies”, added the director.
