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By Trigie Ealey
Arizona Daily Wildcat
August 22, 1996
FLAGSTAFF - The Arizona university system is requesting a total of $854,842,000 in funding for fiscal year 1998, an increase of more than $40 million over fiscal year 1997 base funding.The preliminary fiscal year 1998 state operating budget requests were reviewed yesterday by the Arizona Board of Regents.
The UA is requesting in excess of $303 million for the main campus, including a salary increase of 1.5 percent for university employees, $600,000 to start funding to convert UA fleet vehicles to alternative fuels, and $1,343,300 for the libraries' technology and infrastructure.
The main campus budget package represents a 4.1 percent increase over last fiscal year. This increase is $334,500 less than UA could have received, as a result of a projected decrease in enrollment.
Other UA-related budget items include an increase of 4.2 percent to the Arizona Health Sciences Center for a total of over $56 million, $2.29 million for the Arizona International Campus and $1.48 million for the Sierra Vista Campus.
With the systemwide request, the universities almost hit the target set up in June by Gov. Fife Symington. He asked the universities to request an increase of funding of no more than $40 million systemwide.
Regent Kurt Davis asked the universities to return in September with their final request being exactly $40 million and no more. That will force the universities to cut $758,900 from their collective budgets.
Regent President John Munger said he objected to the inclusion of nearly $1.2 million in the UA budget for economic development.
"When I am on a budget, I don't get everything I want," Munger said. "I have pushed for economic development for years. But this isn't the time to do it with (AIC) opening."
Davis said he wanted to also see the increases prioritized in case there is a budget fight in the legislature next year. He also asked the universities to do more to save money by sharing technology such as on-line encyclopedias.
The regents also asked the universities to return in September with a list of priorities in the areas receiving an increase, and a critical issues list for items of great need that are outside of the $40-million window.
Also, at the request of Symington, the universities presented their salary structure requests as a separate issue. The universities contend that to stay competitive with other universities, they need to offer salaries that attract and retain faculty.
To bring the faculty and staff to the 50th percentile of peer institutions, it would cost $49.2 million. If the goal is the 75th percentile, it would cost nearly $71 million.
Regent Judy Gignac said the 50th percentile was more "digestable."
Regent Kurt Davis asked the universities to come back in September with their final requests. He asked that they include a turnover analysis, plans for performance-based salary increases and a clear plan on how to get to the 50th percentile within a three- to five-year period. The rest of the board agreed with Davis' request.
Final budget requests will be presented at the Sept. 26 and 27 meeting at the UA following the enrollment figures for day 21 of the semester, a major factor in the final amount the universities receive. The budget requests, as approved by the regents, will then be forwarded to the governor and the legislature for approval.
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