The decline in state funding has created an atmosphere at the UA where some faculty doubt whether the administration can support their needs.

Provost George Davis blames the loss of talented faculty at the UA, known as "brain drain," to repeated cuts in funding by the state Legislature.

"No matter how well the UA functions, there is a record and a reality of repeated recisions of funding at the state level," Davis said. "Legislators have other priorities they need to throw dollars at."

Davis said the steady decline in funding causes a great amount of anxiety among UA faculty as they doubt whether the UA can support their research.

"It dashes our administration's vision and plans," Davis said.

Continued yearly cuts in the amount of funding by the state have hindered the UA's ability to complete buildings or other capital projects, Davis complained.

"We are unable to plan projects, despite our stated intentions," Davis said.

Davis did credit the state Legislature in finding funding for two recent capital projects, the BIO5 Institute and an addition to the Old Chemistry building.

"The state came through, they found a way to pay for them," Davis said.

But capital projects are only part of the problem with "brain drain." Davis said keeping professors who can attract large grants is essential to UA research.

Fred Boice, a member of the Arizona Board of Regents, said it is also important to recognize the $453 million the UA has in research are grants linked to faculty, not to the university.

"If that researcher leaves, does that money stay here? Absolutely not," Boice said.

Davis said he admits the UA cannot always compete with salaries offered at other universities.

With the UA being a Research I institute, David said, better-funded colleges and universities often target UA researchers.

"The market for talent is just enormous," Davis said.

While it is difficult for any university to spend enough money to take away all of the UA's top faculty members, Davis said, it is possible for universities to make offers to a professor or even a team of professors when administrators deem it necessary.

State Rep. Ted Downing, D, a UA research professor of social development, said the attacks on the legislature are unfair.

Downing, who represents District 28, which includes Tucson, said the UA's administration is to blame for "brain drain."

"Its our job (at the Legislature) to get the money to the UA," Downing said. "The distribution of money is left up to administration."

While the UA was able to get $4 million from the state Legislature this year to retain top faculty, the money only goes so far.

The state Legislature asks the UA on a yearly basis to submit a report on how much it would take to increase every employee salary to a median level.

UA's chief lobbyist Greg Fahey said it would cost the UA $47 million to give the 14,055 UA employees a raise that would be on par with other universities.

The report does not break down on how much it would cost to adjust the salaries of professors at the UA.

Boice said complaints about the lack of state funding are accurate.

"When we go from roughly 45 percent (in state funding) of our budget to 26 percent, there is no question there will be cuts," Boice said.

Boice said despite recent improvements in the Arizona economy, Arizona universities continue to see cuts in funding by the state.

Boice said the UA has introduced programs like President Peter Likins' "Focused Excellence" to "make every dollar count."

Focused Excellence is a plan to reallocate university funds to strengthen specific programs, which Likins introduced two years ago in response to limited resources for "routine performance."

Downing said he admits faculty at the UA are "underpaid more than others" but said he is not concerned about the loss of faculty to other universities.

"Faculty always move, it is not that unusual." Downing said.

Downing said the 2005 legislative session will have a separate budget session for higher education, and expects the three state universities to undergo a higher amount of scrutiny.

Downing said despite a separate budget session, it is unlikely there will be a significant change in funding for the UA.

"It doesn't take much imagination to predict cuts," Downing said.