ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) - The University of New Mexico is taking measures to cut costs at the school’s publishing house, the University of New Mexico Press, which has racked up a cumulative deficit of about $6.3 million.
President Bob Frank is moving the publishing house from the school’s academic branch to its administrative side, The Albuquerque Journal reported (https://bit.ly/2dViAcz ). The publishing house came up short by nearly half-million dollars in the most recent fiscal year, according to a memo from Frank obtained by the Journal.
During an interview Friday, Frank told the paper that the University of New Mexico Press “continues to be a place we just haven’t been able to get our expenses under control.”
Publishing house director John Byram said it would be irresponsible to speak with the Journal before talking to his staff about the changes.
The publishing house’s staff said the operation was never meant to be self-supporting, according to an economic impact report of fiscal year 2015 to 2016. They said the publishing house averaged net sales above $2 million each year, much of it from out-of-state buyers.
The publishing house said its publications highlight New Mexico for potential visitors. It put out about 70 books last year, including many on Latin American and Chicano studies and the culture of the American West.
The University of Mexico Press is trying to balance a budget that was slashed by about 5 percent in an attempt to balance the state budget.
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Information from: Albuquerque Journal, https://www.abqjournal.com
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