[CAUT] New Department Administrators

[wimblees at aol.com]

Regarding a budget, I haven't had one since I've been here. I was able 
to buy some parts, but had to ask for them. But yesterday I had meeting 
with my chair, and I brought this subject up again. I gave him a list 
of our inventory, which comes to a little less than $2M. I also gave 
him a list of pianos that need replacement parts that I need NOW, which 
comes to about $50,000. He was impressed, and agreed that I needed a 
budget. He brought up that he is sure the motor pool has a budget to 
maintain it's fleet of cars. He promised to try to get some money for 
me. (He has to go to the Dean to get it). I'm not holding my breath, 
but it's nice to know that he finally understands the need for a 
budget.

Wim

-----Original Message-----
From: Chris Solliday <solliday at ptd.net>
To: College and University Technicians <caut at ptg.org>
Sent: Fri, 16 Jun 2006 10:18:54 -0400
Subject: Re: [CAUT] New Department Administrators

Jeff, the piano overseer is the department's contact person for the 
tech so that would be an impossible conflict. As for not getting the 
budget, get back in there and pitch, thump those Guidelines, and lower 
your percentage to 5 gradually as you negotiate, but this formula 
works, and if you're severely understaffed and underbudgeted start 
digging out of that hole. So at 5 you would only have $70,000 for 
yearly maintenance of 125 pianos. If your staff and have bennies your 
whole package and parts etc must be close to that. No? And never say 
never.
Chris Solliday
----- Original Message -----
From: Jeff Tanner
To: College and University Technicians
Sent: Friday, June 16, 2006 6:28 AM
Subject: Re: [CAUT] New Department Administrators



On Jun 16, 2006, at 1:24 AM, Chris Solliday wrote:

Rob, With 4 contracts for over 25 years I have seen so many come and go 
I don't even want to count them. For me the only thing that has ever 
worked well other than doing a good job and becoming trusted is to keep 
pounding the "Guidelines." The suggestions in there, relating to the 
issues you raise, are right on the money and can help. Certainly having 
only one person, the "piano overseer," working with you is first,



My opinion is that the "piano overseer" should be us.



and setting up a budget that reflects the recognition that maintenance 
of an inventory includes three parts replacement fund, rebuilding fund 
and yearly maintenance fund is primary. It can be done with patience 
over time, with education, and I admit I have spent a few dollars on 
nicely printed versions of the Guidelines to help impress them, but it 
has been money well spent. If your replacement (with new) value of your 
inventory is over $600,000.oo then the recommended 10% gives you 20,000 
each for the three areas.



Remember that includes salaries.  But $600,000 isn't a very large 
inventory anymore either.  My 125 pianos come in at a cool $4.3 
million.  But no administrator is going to give you $430K to maintain 
125 pianos.  They're comparing what their neighbors are budgeting per 
instrument -- not per replacement value.


(and no, it isn't Steinway driving that value up.  We have 62 Baldwins.)






Jeff Tanner, RPT
University of South Carolina
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