Those in charge of running the Texas A&M University System’s 20 organizations left the Board of Regents meeting Thursday not knowing their budgets for the new fiscal year.
Regents tabled action affecting 11 universities, seven agencies, and two service units.
That’s after a division over a last-minute idea from Morris Foster of Austin to hold back five percent from each organization.
Foster wanted the chancellor to decide how to spend a pool of $200 million dollars.
Regent Charles Schwartz of Houston opposed the idea. He and Foster debated at length about the financial and operational impact.
Regent Jim Schwertner of Austin said he didn’t disagree with Foster, but the request “blindsided” administrators who had spent months developing budgets.
A special meeting will be held before the end of the month to approve system budgets that total $3.7 seven billion dollars.
Click below to hear comments from Morris Foster, Charles Schwartz, and Jim Schwertner.