2003 funding for UA enrollment growth, building upkeep on table

In a session beginning today, Arizona legislators will look toward the 2003 state budget and begin the task of dividing lean state funds among many hungry state agencies - including UA.

More than $10 million in funding for enrollment growth, building upkeep and various University of Arizona construction projects is on the line for next year.

However, some of the funding could be lost to statewide budget cuts, which some legislators have predicted will continue next year.

The Arizona Legislature will use quarterly tax projections and April tax returns to look for signs that the economy is either turning around or diving deeper into recession before making the budget.

Arizona Board of Regents spokesman Matt Ortega cited Senate President Randall Gnant as saying that if the economy does not turn around, cuts in state funding to Arizona's three state universities could be larger than this year's 4.56 percent cut.

The Legislature has until June 30 to complete the 2003 state budget but will likely aim to finish the budget by April 23.

Lobbyists for Arizona universities will also head back to the Capitol today.

Enrollment growth funding is the biggest chunk of change UA lobbyist Greg Fahey will focus on.

Whenever UA enrollment grows by 22 students, the Legislature provides funding for one faculty member and one staff member. Although this formula is not written as law, it is a long-held precedent in the Legislature, Fahey said.

However last year, UA did not receive funding, though enrollment increased by 1,259 students, Fahey said. Because of enrollment growth over the past two years and projected growth for next year, the Legislature would allocate approximately $7 million in enrollment funding if it adheres to this precedent.

"We're operating with more students and less resources," Ortega said.

Funds for UA building renewal - or building upkeep and classroom upgrades - are again up for allocation by the Legislature.

They appropriated $27 million in funds last year, but Gov. Jane Dee Hull line-item vetoed the funding last April. Recovering the funds for UA building upkeep, which would be used to remodel and upgrade classrooms, is crucial, Ortega said.

However, things that directly affect students' learning - like recruiting and retaining instructors - not building upkeep, have been Hull's priorities, Fahey said.

While the largest buildings may get funding for repairs or upgrades, it is less likely other buildings will.

Beyond the main campus, projects at three other UA campuses are in need of funding from Legislature to continue.

The most pressing project is construction at UA South in Sierra Vista. In 1999 the Legislature approved a $4 million project to construct new buildings on the campus but opted to fund the project one year at a time.

Now a payment of $1.5 million to finish construction is due to the contractor, but the Legislature could refuse to allocate the money needed to finish the project.

Approximately $1 million for construction on UA North campus at West Ina Road and North Shannon Road - a joint venture among UA, Pima Community College and the UA Health Sciences Center campus in Phoenix - will also be up for legislative debate.