UNI Legislative Update
The Office of Governmental Relations provides legislative updates to the campus community through online communication and bimonthly campus presentations. These updates will inform faculty, staff and students of hot topics facing the legislature and legislative actions affecting UNI and the Regents institutions.
February 2, 2010
State government reorganization
The Senate, debating the state reorganization bill last night, accepted a Regent authored amendment that alleviated our concerns of mandated state centralized purchasing and IT. Universities have access to much greater discounts in purchasing and our IT systems are much more complex than those that the state is running including supercomputers, computing clusters, Internet2, and others.
The next phase of the reorganization effort will commence today with work in the House State Government Committee. We expect floor debate next week and we are working with members of the House to ensure that our amendment remains in the bill.
January 28, 2010
Weekend Forum Schedule
Friday, January 29
10:45AM-11:45AM Winterset Listening Post Public Library 123 North 2nd Street
12:30PM-1:30PM Earlham Listening Post Council Chambers, City Hall 140 S. Chestnut Avenue
9AM-10AM St. Charles Listening Post City Hall 113 S. Lumber
11AM-12PM Lohrville Listening Post Public Library 609 2nd Street
1PM-2PM Lake City Listening Post Public Library 110 East Washington Street
2:30PM-3:30PM Farnhamville Listening Post City Hall Boardroom Garfield Avenue
9AM-10AM Manson Listening Post Council Chambers at City Hall 1015 13th Street
12-1PM Ames Ames Chamber of Commerce Legislative Lunch (registration required)
Oakwood Road Community Center & Church 2400 Oakwood Road
1:45PM-2:45PM Albion Listening Post Fire station 100 North Main Street
10:30AM-11:30AM LeGrand Listening Post Community Center 206 North Vine Street
12:15PM-1:15PM Melbourne Listening Post Rec Center 613 Main Street
9AM-10AM Gilman Listening Post City Hall 128 N Main Street
Saturday, January 30
12 noon Jefferson Pizza & Politics Pizza Ranch 206 North Wilson Street
8:30-10AM Fort Dodge Eggs & Issues Iowa Central Community College Bioscience & Health Sciences Building Auditorium
9:30-11:30AM Iowa City LWV Forum Emma Harvat Hall at City Hall 410 E. Washington Street
9:30-11:30AM Iowa City LWV Forum Emma Harvat Hall at City Hall 410 E. Washington Street
8:30-10AM Mt. Pleasant Legislative Forum Chadwick Library at Iowa Wesleyan College 107 W. Broad Street
9-10:30AM Council Bluffs Legislative Coffee Council Bluffs Public Library 400 Willow Avenue
10:30AM Parkersburg Listening Post Parkersburg Civic Center corner of Wemple and 3rd
12:30PM Aplington Listening Post Aplington Community Center on 10th Street behind the library (door on the west side of building)
2PM Bristow Listening Post Bristow City Hall 716 West Street
11AM-12PM Eagle Grove Listening Post Family Table 618 Commercial Avenue
8:30-10AM Fort Dodge Eggs & Issues Iowa Central Community College Bioscience & Health Sciences Building Auditorium
10AM Osage Legislative Forum United Methodist Church 819 Main Street
1:30PM Lone Tree Listening Post Get Wired Coffee House 103 N Devoe Street
2:30PM Hills Listening Post Iguana Mexican Restaurant 104 Main Street
3:45PM Kalona Listening Post Kalona Bakery 209 5th Street
9:30-11:30AM Iowa City LWV Forum Emma Harvat Hall at City Hall 410 E. Washington Street
10:30AM-12 noon Davenport area Legislative forum Mississippi Bend Area Education Agency 800 23rd Street, Bettendorf
9AM Maquoketa Maquoketa-area legislative forum Maquoketa City Hall 201 East Pleasant Street
10-11:30AM Sioux City Legislative forum Gleeson Room at Wilbur Aalfs Main Library 529 Pierce Street
11AM Waukon Allamakee County Legislative Forum Veterans Hall NW Allamakee Street, Waukon
9AM Decorah Winneshiek County Legislative Forum Decorah City Hall, City Council Chambers 400 W. Claiborne Drive
Governor Culver's budget recommendation
Governor Culver unveiled his budget recommendation yesterday afternoon. Needless to say, UNI is pleased as the budget recommendation does not have any cuts to UNI's general university fund or special legislative appropriations. Not only that, the Governor has recommended that $5.2 million be added to UNI's base funding for the current fiscal year which will then be carried forward to the next budget year, FY2011. Special legislative appropriations (Iowa Math and Science Education Partnership, Iowa Recycle Reuse Center, etc) are maintained at their current funding levels after all of the across-the-board cuts.
Although this is a positive step forward in light of the recent budget cuts, the budget process is only now beginning. The Governor's recommendation now enters the legislative process and only the legislature can appropriate dollars.
The legislative budget process will rapidly speed up in the coming weeks and we expect legislative budget targets by the beginning of March. We have many more budget hoops to jump through, but we are definitely off to a good start. Remember to attend a local legislative forum this weekend (I'll be posting those dates and times later today) and speak on making UNI a budget priority.
News accounts of the Governor's budget targets:
Des Moines Register
Des Moines Register article highlighting higher education
Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier
To view the budget recommendations in detail, click here.
January 19, 2010
Des Moines Register editorial on universities
The piece below appeared in Sunday's paper and hammers home some key points.
Preserve excellence of Iowa's public universities
The Register's editorial • January 17, 2010
Do Iowans still prize their public universities?
The answer, of course, is yes. But the question isn't off the mark once you realize that a drastic drop in state support is damaging the three schools. In fact, the loss of nearly $124 million between last school year and this one - a 21 percent plunge - probably is unprecedented.
These institutions have educated generations of young people and become major engines of economic development, from crop research to technology innovation.
Quantcast
Consider how much more they could decline if adequate state funding isn't restored soon.
Fewer courses, larger classes and less opportunity for students to interact with staff are among the damage already done. Administrators have exhausted many of the possibilities for efficiencies to free up dollars, though probably not all of them. That will have to be an ongoing effort.
But now it's a matter of cutting and consolidating programs. While there may be room for some pruning, finances are so dire that cuts will limit academic opportunities and the diversity of ideas on the campuses. It may be harder for students to get the courses they need to graduate on schedule. Some of the most sought-after professors and researchers may be lured away.
Asked if cuts have hurt the quality of the institutions, Iowa Board of Regents President David Miles said, "I'd like to say they haven't, but I can't say that."
Lawmakers not likely to solve the problem soon
The state budget crisis will leave the 2010 Legislature unable to quickly address this problem. Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal said he suspects the universities will receive slightly fewer state dollars for 2010-11 than this year. But lawmakers should not delay dealing with this for long because shortchanging the University of Iowa, Iowa State University and the University of Northern shortchanges the quality of life across the state.
First, look at numbers from the Board of Regents:
- A 10-percent across the board cut Gov. Chet Culver ordered in October left the universities with about the same amount of money they had in 1997 - $453.8 million in state appropriations for general education.
- Or factor in inflation to see that in 1990 the state gave the universities the equivalent of $609.3 million in general education funding compared to today's $453.8 million - about 25 percent more.
Though the recession explains why the universities are so strapped right now, there is also a distressing pattern of failing to take care of them.
State appropriations made up close to 80 percent of general education funding for the schools in the early 1980s. It's about 41 percent today. Tuition generated about a fifth of general education funding at the start of that period. Now it is slightly more than half. Lawmakers shifted much of the responsibility for the cost of higher education from all taxpayers to parents and students.
Although the Board of Regents is expected to raise tuition for the next school year when it meets in February, no one is talking about the sort of eye-popping 32 percent hike the University of California's governing board recently approved. Still, significant tuition increases here seem all but inevitable
Don't sacrifice quality of education or access
Iowa has a long tradition of keeping college affordable because Iowans value access to a great education. Let's not sacrifice these core values.
While it's true that resident undergraduate tuition at the U of I and ISU is near the bottom compared to similar institutions while UNI is closer to the middle, many Iowa families also earn modest incomes.
U of I President Sally Mason said everything possible is being done to avoid compromising quality, but she anticipates having to eliminate programs based on considerations such as enrollment and national rankings. Already the German language Ph.D. program is in the process of being phased out.
Mason is worried about losing faculty, too. "Our best talent become so demoralized by the lack of state support for the universities that they begin to look for opportunities elsewhere," she said. "There is a mythology out there that every place is hurting, but that is not true," such as public universities in Texas and some private institutions.
Here's how bad things are: Gronstal is as big a backer of Iowa's universities as anyone at the Statehouse. But when asked how to turn around the erosion of quality, he said bluntly, "We don't this year. We don't get that turned around this year." Next year might be more promising, he suggested.
Iowans should insist on that, even if it means raising taxes eventually if state revenue does not grow enough. Iowa's public universities are invaluable assets. Standing by and watching them deteriorate is not an option.
January 15, 2010
Weekend forum schedule
Please remember to attend a local legislative forum and speak up for making UNI a funding priority this legislative session! In the past 14 months, UNI has been cut by over $24 million, or roughly 25 percent, resulting in a funding base NOT SEEN since 1998. At this current rate of drastic cuts in higher education, the academic integrity of the university is at stake.
Friday, January 15th
Norwalk -- Easter Library, 1051 N. Avenue -- 9AM
Carlisle -- City Hall, 195 N. First St -- 10:45AM
Hartford -- Paul Koch Community Center at the Sportsmen's Club 120 W. Elm St -- 12:15PM
Grand Junction -- Ferg's Tavern, 806 US 30 -- 10AM
Scranton -- Music Room at the former elementary school building -- 11:30AM
Jefferson -- Uptown Cafe, 108 West State St -- 1:30PM
Paton -- Gimpy's Bar & Grill, 213 S. Main St -- 3PM.
Saturday, January 16th
Newton -- Farm Bureau Building, 1st Ave East -- 7:30AM
Newton -- Community Room -- Hy-Vee (east) -- 9AM
Newton -- Community Room -- Hy Vee (east) -- 1:30PM
Marion -- Chamber of Commerce at Marion City Hall 1225 6th Ave -- 9AM
Cedar Rapids -- Mercy Medical Center's Hallagan Education Center, 701 10th St SE -- 10:30AM
Oelwein -- Luigi's, 1020 S. Frederick Ave -- 9:30AM
Denver -- The Rite Spot, 107 South State St -- 1PM
Des Moines -- 2001 Forest -- 10AM
Burlington -- Burlington Public Library, 210 Court St -- 9-11AM
Webster City -- City Council Chambers, 400 2nd St -- 9AM
Ames -- City Hall, 515 Clark Ave -- 8:45-10AM
Washington -- Chamber of Commerce at the Washington County Courthouse, West Main St -- 10AM
Waterloo Courier coverage of UNI reorganization
UNI announces reorganization plans
By EMILY CHRISTENSEN, emily.christensen@wcfcourier.com | Posted: Thursday, January 14, 2010 1:30 pm | (1) Comments
CEDAR FALLS - For the first time in University of Northern Iowa history the school's administration is making plans to combine two academic colleges.
Pending Board of Regents approval the College of Humanities and Fine Arts and College of Natural Sciences will merge into a new, yet-to-be-named college. The school will also ask for approval to combine the Department of English Language and Literature and the Department of Modern Languages.
"Combining these colleges will strengthen the academic offerings of the combined college and will help reduce administrative expenses," said Provost Gloria Gibson. ".. These two colleges provide the vast majority of our liberal arts core courses, the time is right to bring these colleges together with the goal of developing new, integrated programs that will serve the needs of our students and the state."
The savings from the plan was not immediately disclosed.
President Benjamin Allen also plans to ask the Regents for permission to eliminate the university's Marketing and Advancement Dvision, reducing the number of university administrative divisions from four to three. If approved the change would be effective July 1 and would eliminate one university vice president position.
Allen said this is just the first round in a series of realignments of administrative and academic units at the university.
"Several years of reductions in state appropriations have severely affected our ability to maintain our current organizational structure," said Allen.
Joel Haack, the current College of Natural Sciences dean, will be the inaugural dean of the new college. He will also lead a transition team of faculty, staff and students who will develop the plans to carry out the consolidation by June. 30, 2011.
Students enrolled in programs in the two existing colleges will be able to continue course work toward their degrees.
Samuel Gladden, associate professor of English will be appointed acting head of the Department of Modern Languages. He and Jeffrey Copeland, head of the Department of English Language and Literature, will lead a transition team in developing plans the integrated department.
January 14, 2010
UNI announces reorganization
Based upon diminishing support from the state, and other factors, UNI issued the following press release today outlining plans to reorganize the academic structure of campus.
1/14/10
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- University of Northern Iowa President Ben Allen today announced the first round of a series of realignments of administrative and academic units at the university. According to Allen these changes will help the university more effectively meet the needs of students and respond to the realities of the state budget.
"Several years of reductions in state appropriations have severely affected our ability to maintain our current organizational structure," said Allen. "We've been developing strategies to help reduce expenses and increase revenue. Some of those strategies can go into effect immediately, while others will take more time."
With that in mind, pending Board of Regents, State of Iowa, approval, Allen intends to reduce the number of the university's administrative divisions from four to three. Effective July 1, 2010 UNI's Marketing & Advancement Division will be dissolved, eliminating one university vice president position.
The Marketing & Advancement Division is comprised of the Offices of University Marketing & Public Relations; University Development, which includes the UNI Foundation; and Alumni Relations, which includes the UNI Alumni Association. Bill Calhoun, current UNI vice president and president of the UNI Foundation, will remain as president of the UNI Foundation and will continue to report to Allen. University Development and Alumni Relations will continue to report to Calhoun. University Marketing & Public Relations, led by James O'Connor, assistant vice president for marketing and public relations, will now report to Allen.
"On the academic side, Executive Vice President and Provost Gloria Gibson has recommended combining UNI's Colleges of Humanities & Fine Arts (CHFA) and Natural Sciences (CNS), Allen said. "I strongly support this plan. It will have a positive impact and provide opportunities to improve student learning, efficiency and effectiveness."
This move would mark the first time colleges have been combined at UNI.
"Combining these colleges will strengthen the academic offerings of the combined college and will help reduce administrative expenses," Gibson said. "CHFA currently doesn't have a dean. Given that fact, and that these two colleges provide the vast majority of our liberal arts core courses, the time is right to bring these colleges together with the goal of developing new, integrated programs that will serve the needs of our students and the state."
Gibson will appoint a committee of faculty, staff and students that will develop specific plans to carryout the reorganization. Consolidation of the two colleges is to be complete by June 30, 2011.
Joel Haack, current CNS dean, will be the inaugural dean of the new college. Haack will lead the transition team, as well as serve as CHFA dean until the new college is up and running.
Students enrolled in programs in the two existing colleges will be able to continue course work toward their degrees.
Along with the college consolidation, Gibson intends to combine the Department of English Language and Literature and the Department of Modern Languages. Samuel Gladden, associate professor of English will be appointed acting head of the Department of Modern Languages. He and Jeffrey Copeland, head of the Department of English Language and Literature, will lead a transition team charged with developing plans for a new, integrated department.
The college and department consolidation plans will require approval by the Board of Regents.
- END -
January 12, 2010
Condition of the State Address
Today the Governor gave his annual Condition of the State Address to a joint session of the Iowa General Assembly. The Governor has elected to wait until the end of the month to submit his budget to the General Assembly, but he did implore the legislators to do everything they can to help Iowa's public universities through this budget year.
As you probably know, the budget process this legislative session will be incredibly difficult as the state has had declining tax revenues for quite some time.
January 5, 2010
UNI adding literacy center
By EMILY CHRISTENSEN, emily.christensen@wcfcourier.com
CEDAR FALLS - A new center on the University of Northern Iowa campus will work to ensure every child is given the opportunities needed to become literate and communicate effectively.
In December, the Board of Regents approved the creation of the Center for Disability Studies in Literacy, Language and Learning. The center will be primarily funded through external grants.
Chris Kliewer, a professor in special education, said developing the center seemed logical given how many literacy-centered projects were already funded and under way on campus.
"One of our ultimate goals is that every child be recognized as a literate individual who has the capacity to grow in that regard. This center helps us bring together the expertise that can foster that goal," Kliewer added.
Five UNI professors, each with roots in special education and literacy but with specialities in a wide variety of areas, are overseeing the project with the help of their colleagues and graduate students.
"One of the things that's most advantageous about having a center is it creates a breeding ground for collaboration," said Amy Peterson, an assistant professor in special education. "There is a core group of us, but it is an interdisciplinary group ... so it's a place where we can gather and really extend on the work that none of us could do alone. This designation lends a stronger voice to supporting kids with more significant disabilities."
The center is located inside Malcolm Price Laboratory School, but Kliewer said most work will be done in classrooms across the state. The work will focus on four key areas: developing curricular materials and resources to support teachers and therapists; creating resources to support families' promotion of literacy and language development in their children; developing material to inform policy makers; and research.
So far most efforts have focused on research and building classroom capacity for teaching the most severely disabled students. Through the Iowa Literacy Project, a program created in conjunction with the Iowa Department of Education, the educators are working with teachers, introducing them to new tools they can use to reach those students. Peterson said the results in the first few months of school have been staggering.
"If it is believed the children can never become literate, then we won't provide opportunities for that to happen and we won't recognize it when we see it because we aren't looking for it," Peterson said. "If these teachers have a solid foundation in literacy and the tools they need and the professional support to keep growing along with their students, then the students can learn. Our goal is to improve these teachers' capacity to teach and to increase the opportunities for students to become increasingly acknowledged for their literacy."
January 3, 2010
Who knew science and math could be so cool
The below appeared in the Cedar Rapids Gazette over weekend by Jeff Weld, who is the Director of IMSEP.
Test scores showed Iowa learners slipping to merely average in math and science by comparison to other states (who, collectively, rate mediocre among top-tier nations). Enrollment trends failed to support emerging job growth in fields heavy in science and math. That’s when the Iowa Mathematics and Science Education Partnership (IMSEP) was created.
A collaboration of the state’s public universities led by the University of Northern Iowa, and in alliance with K-12 schools, private and community colleges, area education agencies (AEAs) and businesses, IMSEP has helped to reinvigorate science and math in hundreds of communities across Iowa since 2008.
One of approximately 30 states to recently launch STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) initiatives, Iowa’s effort is now complemented by President Obama’s “Educate to Innovate” campaign announced weeks ago to “strengthen America’s role as the world engine of scientific discovery and technological innovation.”
The nationwide program is funded by more than $200 million from companies and private foundations intent on finding and replicating successful science, math and technology education innovations. Not since sputnik has there been such universal resolve to improve math and science teaching and learning. But unlike the space race, this is an economic competition to sustain the quality of life we all take for granted.
Midway through its second year, the Iowa Mathematics and Science Education Partnership has partnered more than 100 professors with some 1,500 teachers for the benefit of countless learners. Enrichment camps, professional development, after-school programs, innovative curriculum, and other supports have impacted 209 communities in 86 Iowa counties, prominently including the Linn County region.
For example, Linn-Mar High School students work in teams to reverse-engineer problematic designs through Project Lead The Way, a pre-engineering curriculum now offered at more than 100 schools through IMSEP-supported engineering outreach at the University of Iowa and Iowa State University. Harding Middle Schoolers are learning about the geology of Iowa — its relevance to our mining and agriculture industries, thanks to a joint workshop of earth science faculty at UNI and UI.
The math achievement gap is narrowing at an Anamosa elementary school using lesson study groups coordinated by faculty at UI and UNI. Blairstown chemistry students are learning about bonds and balanced equations through authentic experiments coached by a team of chemists from UI, UNI, and ISU.
And more than 200 elementary age youth enjoy after-school STEM clubs managed through the IMSEP-funded Corridor STEM Initiative of the Grant Wood AEA. These examples highlight the school-university connections made through Iowa’s STEM education initiative. IMSEP focuses on the teacher pipeline and business links to education as well.
Far more science and math teachers reach retirement age each year than are produced by Iowa’s colleges and universities. To meet that challenge, IMSEP leaders created the recruitment program, I-Teach Math & Science, now operating at UNI and ISU, in partnership with two community colleges — North Iowa Area and Hawkeye. In the first two semesters of operation, more than 100 bright new math and science majors have participated in the nascent program.
Parallel to teacher production efforts is a multipronged campaign to build a culture of science and math achievement through partnerships with businesses, science centers, and other educational assets of the state. Forward-thinking Iowa industries, including Clipper Wind Power of Cedar Rapids, partnered in kicking off Real World Externships to help math and science teachers modernize their teaching through summer jobs in authentic worksites. Informal education centers are promoting an IMSEP message through radio, television, and posters to ask the question, “Who knew math and science could be so cool?”
The answer can come from learners themselves who enjoy inspired teachers and engaged communities.
Jeffrey Weld, Ph.D., is director of the Iowa Mathematics and Science Education Partnership.
December 14, 2009
Math, science program bolsters teachers, test scores
By EMILY CHRISTENSEN, emily.christensen@wcfcourier.com | Posted: Sunday, December 13, 2009 12:00 pm | (0) Comments
CEDAR FALLS - Since the Iowa Math and Science Education Partnership was created a year ago, test scores have increased, math and science teacher candidates have grown and several million dollars have been dedicated to this area of education.
But, Jeff Weld, the IMSEP director, knows he can't take direct credit for all of these outcomes. Weld knows that the slight uptick on standardized test scores - the Iowa Test of Basic Skills, Iowa Test of Education Development and the Amercan College Tests - probably can't be credited entirely to the work IMSEP is doing.
He does, however, believe his organization's work is directly responsible for the 113 undergraduates who participated in a teacher recruitment program and partially to thank for an increase in the number of students enrolled in math and science teaching majors at the University of Northern Iowa and Iowa State University.
And, that, Weld said is what IMSEP was designed to do.
"If you peel away everything and get down to the brass tacks of it, if we fail at everything else, what had we better succeed at is bringing in and producing more quality math and science teachers," Weld said.
The partnership, connecting the three state universities, K-12 schools, Area Education Agencies, community and private colleges and community and business organizations, was created in 2008 in response to a stagnation in math and science test scores and educator production. The state-funded program, based at UNI, was charged with improving student performance, teacher preparation and collaboration throughout the state.
December 11, 2009
Revenue Estimating Conference
The forecast for state revenue: Iowa will bring in nearly $37 million less this year than expected this past fall.
But no more mid-year cuts will be needed in state government because the state coffers currently have a $188 million cushion, budget director Dick Oshlo said today. That means there will be no more layoffs, furloughs or program cuts other than those already announced.
Oshlo’s comments came immediately after a panel of budget experts lowered their earlier estimate of how much money Iowa will collect in taxes and other revenues this budget year from $5.438 billion to $5.401 billion.
“The governor’s 10 percent across-the-board cut is working,” Oshlo said. As for budget cuts, he said, there will be “nothing more than what’s been enacted by the governor.”
The numbers are critical because they mean there will be no more mid-year cuts this year, and because they dictate how much money the governor and lawmakers will have to work with for next year’s budget.
For next budget year, the forecast is $13 million less than expected in October.
The REC lowered their earlier estimate for fiscal year 2011, which starts July 1, from $5.416 billion to $5.403 billion. That’s essentially flat compared to the estimate for this year.
Iowa Gov. Chet Culver said he’s encouraged by today’s REC report.
“It confirmed previous reports by my Council of Economic Advisors that Iowa has likely seen the worst of the national recession, and the state’s revenue stream may start improving slowly in FY 2011. The REC’s report also confirmed the 10 percent cuts I ordered in the fiscal year 2010 was the right decision, and the budget remains balanced with no additional cuts needed.”
Culver added: “I want to be clear – fiscal year 2011 will require some tough decisions.”
But he said he’ll work with the Legislature to find ways to cut costs and to create economic opportunities. He repeated that he won’t raise taxes.
House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, D-Des Moines, said the members of the REC were conservative in their estimates.
“It looks like we’ve reached a stabilization period,” said McCarthy, who watched today’s meeting at the Iowa Capitol. “There are signs the economy is on the cusp of turning around, but to be responsible, we think it’s good to err on the side of being conservative.”
Iowa has healthy cash reserves, unlike almost every other state, McCarthy said in an interview.
For next budget year, Democratic leaders have been expecting since October that they’ll have the same amount of money to work with then as the state has now. Lawmakers will reorganize state government to cut millions more in spending, he said.
“We will balance our budget without raising taxes,” McCarthy said.
Republican legislative leaders reacted immediately with criticism of the Democrats who control state government.
“The newest estimate by the REC is not surprising,” said Rep. Kraig Paulsen, the Republican leader in the Iowa House, in a written statement. “The real budget mess is how much money was spent during the last two years.
“Even after Gov. Culver made the across the board cut, for every dollar of revenue that came in, $1.13 was spent. To put it into perspective, if you were making $50,000 a year, that would be like putting $6,500 on your credit card.”
Sen. Paul McKinley, the Republican leader in the Iowa Senate said in a written statement: “The new projections today once again serve to underscore how short-sighted and fiscally irresponsible it was for Governor Culver to sign and legislative Democrats to pass the largest amount of spending in the state’s history when Republicans were consistently warning them to control their overspending addiction. Just today, another $50 million dollar hole was discovered as a result of Governor Culver’s extravagant spending.”
Democratic leaders said the new revenue estimates are evidence of the national recession’s impact on Iowans.
“Many Iowans across our state have lost their jobs,” said Sen. Mike Gronstal, the Democratic leader in the Iowa Senate in a written statement. “Many families are struggling to make ends meet. Everybody is cutting back, including state government. That’s why we are keeping our focus on budgeting responsibly and putting our state’s fiscal house back in order.”
Gronstal said Culver “made the right call” in October when he cut the state budget by 10 percent.
THE STORY SO FAR
November 2008: This was the last month Iowa’s state revenues saw true growth.
December 2008: Iowa Gov. Chet Culver orders a 1.5 percent across-the-board cut. He made $178.4 million in spending changes: He transferred $10 million of unused money into the general budget; announced $40 million in cuts, largely through a hiring freeze and limiting out-of-state travel; and nixed plans for a $37 million new office building.
March 2009: State lawmakers base their budget on the prediction that the state will take in $5.756 billion for the general fund for the budget year 2010. The estimate was adjusted to reflect $97 million in extra income due to in law changes.
Oct. 7: State revenue will be $414 million less than predicted in March, says the three-member panel of experts on whose projections state spending is based. The Revenue Estimating Conference predicts $5.438 billion for the current budget year.
Oct. 8: With the state budget knocked severely out of balance, just three months into the budget year, budget cuts are unavoidable. Culver choses to go deeper than need with an unprecedented 10 percent across-the-board, or $565 million.
Oct. 22: Department leaders give Culver their suggestions for budget cuts. A total of 791 state workers would be laid off and 529 vacant positions would be eliminated.
October/November: Democratic legislative leaders voluntarily cut 10 percent in the legislative branch spending, and judicial branch leaders choose to cut 7.1 percent from the state court system.
Nov. 30, 2009: Culver says only about 100 state workers will be laid off — instead of nearly 800 – because two of Iowa’s three public employee unions have agreed to take five unpaid days off.
Today: The panel of budget experts, the Revenue Estimating Conference, predicted state revenues will shrink even more this budget year because of the long-lasting recession. Next budget year, they’ll shrink slightly more.
December 3, 2009
AFSCME votes to approve mandatory unpaid days
Yesterday it was announced that members of the state's American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) voted to approve a proposal put forth to them by Gov. Culver and AFSCME leadership regarding mandatory unpaid days. The agreement between the state and AFSCME includes a provision requiring all AFSCME employees in Iowa to take five days of unpaid time off during the remainder of fiscal 2010.
Obviously, this five-day plan is different than the graduated, three-, six- and nine-day approach originally proposed by UNI. How these mandatory unpaid days will be carried out for UNI's AFSCME-represented employees won't be known until further direction is provided by Department of Administrative Services (DAS).
What impact this agreement will have on temporary layoff plans for UNI's other employee groups won't be known until we have details from the DAS and negotiations are completed with United Faculty. The next meeting between UNI and United Faculty is scheduled for Dec. 2.
Other budget-related updates:
1. Temporary reduction in TIAA-CREF employer contributions
Effective Nov. 30, the university is temporarily reducing its employer retirement contribution to TIAA-CREF. The reduced contribution will remain in effect through the June 30, 2011 payroll.
2. Board of Regents
A motion to recommend a $100 spring-semester tuition surcharge was approved by the Board of Regents at its October meeting and will be voted on at its Dec. 10 meeting. The vote regarding 2010/11 tuition has been postponed until February.
I want to thank you again for your continued patience as we work out budget details. More updates will follow.
October 30, 2009
UNI budget update
The following is budget message sent out to campus from President Allen regarding UNI's strategies to implement the $8.8 million state budget cut.
At the Board of Regents, State of Iowa meeting today, the state's public universities will present proposals to address an across-the-board 10-percent state appropriated budget cut for fiscal 2010.
This budget reduction has significant implications for our university. A 10-percent state appropriation reduction has a greater impact on UNI than it does to the state's other public universities, as UNI relies more heavily on state funding. To compound the reality of its impact, this cut, coupled with other recent decreases in state appropriations, represents a reduction in state funds for UNI of $23 million, or 25 percent, since November 2008.
This budget cut required swift decision-making, in large part, because one-third of our fiscal year has already passed. For the last two weeks, UNI's leadership has met with students, faculty and staff to assist in this difficult process. To guide strategic decision-making, we focused on both the fiscal 2010 10-percent state appropriation reduction while taking into consideration our anticipated fiscal 2011 budget scenario. With stimulus funds unavailable for fiscal 2011 and the economic outlook still challenging, our proposal employed both permanent and temporary strategies to minimize a potential financial "cliff" in the coming fiscal year.
UNI's proposed action plan to the Board of Regents will address the $8.8 million reduction by initiating the following strategies:
Reallocate unplanned tuition revenue as a result of higher-than-forecasted 2009-2010 enrollment ($2.7 million)
Make permanent budget reductions across the university through divisional cuts, which could include permanent layoffs ($1 million)
Conduct temporary layoffs (unpaid leave) among all employee groups in fiscal 2010 with a graduated plan based on salary ($1.8 million)
Redirect a portion of the ARRA (stimulus) funds ($1 million)
Temporarily reduce TIAA-CREF employer contributions from 10 percent to 8 percent of salary for the remainder of fiscal 2010 and fiscal 2011 ($1 million in savings in fiscal 2010)
Apply a tuition surcharge of $100 per fulltime student for spring 2010 semester with revenue going directly to instruction, financial aid and student-service support ($1 million)
Initiate an across-the-board 10-percent cut to special line-item units at UNI ($400,000)
This action plan is contingent on the Board of Regents approval.
Thank you for your continued patience and dedication to our students and the state of Iowa.
Ben Allen
October 9, 2009
President Allen statement regarding budget cuts
On October 7, the state Revenue Estimating Conference lowered its fiscal 2010 revenue projection from nearly $5.8 billion last March to $5.4 billion. This new projection resulted in Gov. Culver's announcement of a 10-percent across-the-board cut to the state's fiscal 2010 budget. Board of Regents President David Miles also announced an immediate hiring freeze for all general fund supported positions and a moratorium on all new building construction projects. These issues will be discussed and presented for ratification at a special telephonic meeting of the Board of Regents, State of Iowa scheduled for October 14.
This new budget reduction equates to an approximately $8.8 million cut for the University of Northern Iowa and now reduces the university's state appropriations by $23.8 million (23.1 percent) since the start of fiscal 2009.
With this news, we continue to face great financial challenges. Difficult decisions were made last year as a result of fiscal 2009 budget reversions and fiscal 2010 state appropriation decreases. I am very aware of the burden these cuts placed on the university.
This will require substantial, structural changes to the university and sizeable cuts to programs and initiatives. Everything is on the table for review.
Yet, our guiding principles must remain intact for this round of budget reductions. We will do everything we can to maintain academic quality, progress to graduation, student financial aid, and campus safety and security. The vice presidents and I will make these reductions as strategically as possible.
As noted during convocation in September, we have to make substantive changes for our university. I encourage each and every university community member to accept these circumstances and take responsibility for the future success of the university. With the limited resources we have, we will need to become much more efficient and effective, innovative and entrepreneurial.
We will get through this challenge, but we must work hard, work smart and work together. Thank you for your continued focus on the work at hand.
Ben Allen
View Board of Regents President David Miles statement from October 8 here.
Gov. Culver orders 10% budget cut
From the Des Moines Register...
Hundreds of layoffs are on the horizon for state employees, and the pink slips are likely to appear quickly.
State government leaders were left reeling Thursday by Iowa Gov. Chet Culver's order to immediately whack an unprecedented $565 million from the state budget.
"We will start cutting today," Culver said.
The 10 percent across-the-board cut will mean a wide swath of Iowans - including the poor, unemployed, mentally ill and elderly - will feel the pinch of reduced state services.
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The Iowa Constitution requires that the state budget be balanced. Culver had to make only a 7.1 percent cut to do that, or $415 million, but he instead chose to go deeper. Raising taxes isn't an option, he said.
The decision came about 24 hours after a three-member panel of budget experts predicted that collections of taxes and fees will plunge between now and the end of the fiscal year in June. The Revenue Estimating Conference lowered its March prediction of $5.853 billion in tax and fee collections to $5.438 billion.
"The fact is clear," Culver said Thursday. "Iowa has not spent too much; rather our revenue has fallen off by significant amounts as the result of this national economic recession."
Culver said no government office that gets money from the state's general fund will be spared.
The exact number of layoffs is unclear, but it will "certainly be hundreds of state employees," he said.
State workers - and that means everyone from corrections workers to school food service staff, state librarians, workers at the school for the blind, addictive disorder counselors, social workers, state attorney general's office staffers, auditors, state crime investigators and treasurer's staff - now face the uncertainty of possibly losing their jobs.
"I would assume there's a great deal of them sitting around on pins and needles," said Danny Homan, president of Council 61 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, which represents about 20,000 state employees.
"I think this will have the magnitude of a plant closing," Homan said. "This is the most devastating thing that could happen to the state of Iowa at this particular time.
A mid-2008 report put state employment at 63,400.
AFSCME members have a contract giving them a 2 percent wage increase on July 1, 2010, and a 1 percent raise on Jan. 1, 2011. Homan said it will be up to members to decide whether to renegotiate that.
Union layoffs are by job classification and seniority. Culver appointed Joni Klaassen, deputy chief of staff for administration, to help unions address reduction in the state government work force.
The cuts will be felt immediately at the state's universities. David Miles, president of the Iowa Board of Regents, ordered a systemwide freeze on hiring for positions paid through general operating funds, and a moratorium on all new building construction projects, except those directly related to flood restoration projects at the University of Iowa.
For everyday Iowans, the cuts are likely to mean fewer state troopers on their roads, less government oversight by inspections and auditing staff, long lines at state offices, longer waits for treatment for drug addiction, more students per class in elementary schools, fewer elective classes at high schools and fewer tuition grants for college students.
The cut for the Department of Human Services alone, which provides services to the most vulnerable Iowans, is about $132 million. Total cuts to education are the highest, at $332 million.
Culver said he will try to find about $30 million in December or January to beef up staffing in public safety, especially corrections officers and state troopers; basic health care services; and the state's unemployment agency. But the money simply may never materialize, he said.
Departments will have some flexibility in how to approach the cuts. They have a target reduction amount, but they can implement the cuts and layoffs as they choose, Culver said.
Culver's executive order requiring the 10 percent cut does not affect the Iowa judicial branch. A governor, who heads the executive branch, can't order cuts in the legislative and judicial branches. Culver said he would talk with Chief Justice Marsha Ternus about voluntarily imposing cuts for the court system. Legislative leaders are discussing a 10 percent cut, too.
A governor can order across-the-board cuts on his own, but cutting budgets of specific departments and not others requires action by the Legislature.
Culver said he would not call for a special session of the Legislature because it would have taken weeks to bring the lawmakers back to the Capitol, then to secure 51 votes in the Iowa House and 26 votes in the Iowa Senate, he said. "The fact is, we need to act. We need to move," Culver said.
And an across-the-board cut "avoids the unfair and unrealistic picking and choosing of important programs," he said in an executive order Thursday.
Part of the reason the cut is so deep is that Culver said he wants to leave a cushion of around $100 million. The current ending balance for this budget year is $97 million. And the more cuts now, the better off the budget for fiscal year 2011 will be, Culver said.
Culver's plan does not call for dipping further into the state's cash reserves. The state has already drawn down a third of its reserves for the current budget year, fiscal year 2010, "and we're still short," he said.
Republican lawmakers and tax watchdogs immediately worried that Culver's cut will cause property-tax increases.
"With the cut to education funding, it will put greater pressure on the 365 school districts to bond or borrow to pay the bills," said Ed Wallace of the Iowa Taxpayers Association.
Culver said he will ask the Legislature to require school districts to spend money from their cash reserves rather than raise property taxes. Districts have roughly $400 million in cash reserves, he said.
In coming days, each department in state government will submit a plan for cuts to the Department of Management.
The deadline is "as quickly as humanly possible," Culver said.
September 10, 2009
Fall enrollment at University of Northern Iowa shows increase
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- For the third consecutive year, University of Northern Iowa officials report an increase in the number of students enrolled for the fall semester over the previous year. UNI's official fall 2009 enrollment is 13,080, a 1.3 percent increase over the 12,908 enrolled in fall 2008. Calculated on students enrolled through the end of the second week of class, UNI's count shows an increase of 172 students.
UNI has experienced a steady increase in enrollment since 2006, when the official count was 12,260 students, followed by 12,609 in 2007 and last year's 12,908.
"We're pleased with the increase in our fall enrollment, reflecting the quality and relevance of our academic programs," said UNI President Benjamin Allen. "We have had three years of growth, including an increase in the number of returning students, and this is something we want to continue. We will continue to work to maintain and increase the number of students in all enrollment categories."
September 2, 2009
IMSEP director Jeff Weld on Iowa Public Radio
Listen to the achieved audio of Director Jeff Weld's interview on the "Talk@12" program on Iowa Public Radio as he explains how IMSEP is leading the way in enhancing teacher quality, student performance, and recruiting more math and science teacher majors to combat the teacher shortage problem facing Iowa.
Discussion points include:
- How Project Lead the Way is enhancing the development of potential engineers with a pre-engineering curriculum package for middle and high school students.
- How the Teacher Externship program is answering that age old question that all math and science teachers hear, "When am I going to need this in the read world?"
- How IMSEP's innovative I-Teach program is actively recruiting highly qualified college students into the math and science teacher pipeline to combat the teacher shortage problem facing the state.
August 27, 2009
For 13th consecutive year, UNI ranked second on 'U.S. News & World Report' list
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- For the 13th consecutive year, the University of Northern Iowa is ranked second in the "Best Midwest Universities -- Master's" category for public universities, according to U.S. News & World Report's 2010 "America's Best Colleges" guidebook.
The magazine's ranking criteria include peer assessment, academic reputation, retention, faculty resources, student selectivity, financial resources, graduation-rate performance and alumni giving rate.
UNI also was 16th on a combined list of all public and private Midwest regional universities -- one of only three public institutions to make the list of top 20 Midwest regionals. UNI was ranked 17th on the list last year.
Earlier this month, UNI was one of an elite group of 158 colleges on the Princeton Review's list of "Best in the Midwest" for 2010, based on standards of academic excellence, along with anonymous student surveys, site visits and independent invited recommendations.
"While we don't live for rankings, it's great to see our faculty and staff recognized for the quality and value they provide our students," said Benjamin Allen, UNI president.
Truman State University in Missouri was ranked first among public institutions in the "Best Midwest Universities -- Master's" category, also for the 13th consecutive year.
June 10, 2009
Huge grant awarded to IMSEP
The Iowa Math and Science Education Partnership (IMSEP) has been awarded nearly $900,000 in grant money from the National Science Foundation. This is a tremendous accomplishment for Jeff Weld and his team.
Anytime the university is able to leverage state dollars into additional income for their program is critical. It goes to show that IMSEP is well worth the state investment currently provided by the state legislature.
The press release is below with more details on the grant.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Tonja Richards, Marketing & Public Relations
Iowa Mathematics & Science Education Partnership, (319) 273-2716
National Science Foundation invests nearly $900,000 in IMSEP
Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Award will provide scholarships at all three Regent universities
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- A major grant from the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program will help Iowa’s three Regent universities put more math and science teachers in Iowa’s classrooms over the next five years.
The Iowa Mathematics and Science Education Partnership (IMSEP), a collaboration between the University of Northern Iowa (UNI), Iowa State University (ISU) and the University of Iowa (UI), recently won a $899,298 award from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to encourage science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) majors and professionals to become middle and high school math and science teachers. The grant will not only provide money for scholarships, stipends and programs for college students who commit to teaching math and science, it also requires them to teach in high-needs schools, defined as those schools with a high percentage of student poverty, a high percentage of out-of-field teachers or a higher than average teacher turnover rate.
This is the first grant awarded to the organization since its inception in 2008. The grant application was written by key STEM leaders within Iowa’s three state universities: Jeffrey Weld, Ph.D., director, IMSEP; Thomas Greenbowe, Ph.D., professor of chemistry and coordinator of general chemistry, Iowa State University, Norbert Pienta, PhD, professor and director of undergraduate studies (chemistry), University of Iowa and Marc Armstrong, Ph.D., professor and chair, department of geography and administrative fellow, University of Iowa.
“We all rely increasingly on math and science with every passing year,” said Weld. “Yet data from multiple sources reminds us of the need to focus on improving student performance in math and science if we are going to compete today’s in the global, knowledge-based economy. Leveraging state and federal dollars will allow us to put more high-quality STEM teachers into Iowa’s classrooms.”
The NSF award will allow IMSEP to provide annual scholarships of $10,000 to junior- and senior-level math and science majors, or STEM-related graduate-level students, from all three universities. For each scholarship given, students are committing to teaching for two years in schools where needs are greatest. These awards complement the IMSEP I-Teach Program, a freshmen-level recruitment program established to tap talented incoming college students and producing more science and mathematics teachers for Iowa schools. Launched in fall 2008, dozens of talented new recruits have participated in I-Teach Programs on three campuses – ISU, UNI and North Iowa Area Community College (NIACC).
In 2008, the state launched an ambitious plan for repositioning Iowa as a leader in science and math education with the creation of IMSEP. A partnership of the state’s three public universities, IMSEP is headquartered on the University of Northern Iowa campus and charged with improving mathematics and science performance of Iowa students while preparing more high quality mathematics and science teachers for Iowa’s schools.
Applications for scholarships will be available for the fall 2009-2010 academic year. For more information about this award and other programs designed to increase math and science-savvy citizens, visit the IMSEP website at www.iowamathscience.org.
The NSF’s Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship program was launched in 2002 to encourage talented STEM majors and professionals to become K-12 mathematics and science teachers. Named after Iowa native and Grinnell College graduate Robert Norton Noyce, recognized as one of the inventors of the microchip, the program provides funds to institutions of higher education to support scholarships, stipends, and academic programs for undergraduate STEM majors and post-baccalaureate students holding STEM degrees who commit to teaching in high-need K-12 school districts.
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The Iowa Mathematics and Science Education Partnership (IMSEP) is a state funded initiative led by the University of Northern Iowa in partnership with Iowa State University and the University of Iowa. IMSEP’s goals are to improve mathematics and science performance of Iowa students; to prepare more high quality mathematics and science teachers for Iowa’s schools; and to promote statewide collaboration and cooperation. For more information regarding IMSEP, go to www.iowamathscience.org.
June 3, 2009
Research Development School website
The RD School website is up and running full with information on the transition process and FAQ's.
May 27, 2009
Governor takes final action on bills
Late last night, the Governor signed the remaining bills that were passed in the closing days of the legislative session. Included in the bills that were signed into law was the language establishing the state wide research development school to be located at the current Price Lab School. A website describing the transition period and more details about the school will be up shortly.
April 30, 2009
Budget strategy presented to the Board of Regents
At today's Board of Regents meeting, President Allen presented UNI's budget strategy going into fiscal year 2010 that starts on July 1, 2009 (the state legislature just approved the state budget for fiscal year 2010 on April 26th).
Click here for the latest update on President Allen.
Click here for the PowerPoint presentation to the Regents on the UNI budget strategy.
April 28, 2009
Legislative session concludes
This past weekend, the Iowa General Assembly finished up business and adjourned at roughly six o'clock on Sunday morning. With significant decreases in tax revenue and other funding streams, almost all programs had their budget's cut this year.
UNI was cut by more than 12 percent, in excess of $14 million, from last year's appropriated amount. Special legislative initiatives at the university, such as the economic development programs and the Iowa Math and Science Education Partnership, were cut between seven and ten percent from last years allocation.
Although we are expecting significant amounts of money from the federal stimulus package that will help offset some of the burden of the budget cuts, it is important to understand that the federal stimulus money is one-time money. In other words, without a significant turnaround in the Iowa economy, the 2010 legislative session looks extremely bleak and there will be no federal stimulus money to fill in the gaps.
The Governor has yet to sign any of the major appropriations bill that were past last weekend and has approximately 30 more days to review the legislation before he signs. The education appropriations bill will probably be one of the last bills he signs given the immense size and scope of the legislation. Stay tuned for more updates and thanks for all your grassroots support this session!
April 24, 2009
Legislature approve plan to transform Price lab school
JENNIFER JACOBS • jejacobs@dmreg.com • April 24, 2009
Plans are moving ahead for a new, cutting-edge research school where the teaching techniques of tomorrow get tested on today’s children.
Lawmakers’ latest plan calls for a three-year timeline to transition Malcolm Price Laboratory School in Cedar Falls into a school that would be renamed the Research, Development, Demonstration and Dissemination Center.
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Teachers’ research at the school for preschoolers through 12th graders would be released statewide and nationwide, said Sen. Brian Schoenjahn, D-Arlington.
“Truly, Iowa will become a beacon of research in the delivery of instruction,” Schoenjahn said. “We want to know how to deliver information to tomorrow’s students, students who will text each other across the table rather than talk to each other.”
The Iowa Senate voted 30-18 tonight to approve the bill, Senate File 470, and sent it to the House.
The bill calls for the state to pay a consultant $35,000 to study whether Price Lab should be renovated or rebuilt, and what both options would cost.
Then in 2011, lawmakers would review the cost study and decide what to do with the building. Changes would begin in 2012, Schoenjahn said.
Right now, education majors from the University of Northern Iowa assist, observe and add input as lab school teachers try out innovative approaches in the classroom. The new plan calls for all three state universities to be involved.
All students would open enroll; enrollment would be capped at 650. The school’s currently enrolled 366 preschool through 12th-grade students would have priority, the bill says.
A sort of “in-house school board” would govern the school, Schoenjahn said. The advisory council would be comprised of 17 people, including business people, teachers, and public and private university representatives.
United States Secretary of Education Arne Duncan visits UNI
US Secretary of Education Arne Duncan was on campus this Friday to discuss the county's educational system as well as how the federal stimulus money will affect education in the state.
Click here to see video and pictures of the event.
April 17, 2009
UNI Basketball team honored
UNI Mens basketball team was honored by the House of Representatives today for their outstanding season and NCAA Tournament berth. Congratulations!
Pictured with team are State Representatives Kressig, Kelley, Burt, and Berry of Black Hawk County.
March 20, 2009
State budget sinks another $400 million
JASON CLAYWORTH • jclayworth@dmreg.com • March 20, 2009
Iowa’s sinking revenue projections plummeted another $400 million total for the current and upcoming July 1 fiscal year, under estimates adopted this morning.
It means lawmakers must consider further job cuts, furloughs and state service reductions, state leaders and elected officials said.
“The question is, ‘Has the economy bottomed out’ and, in my opinion, no,” said Holly Lyons, fiscal director of the Legislative Services Agency and a member of the three-person Iowa Revenue Estimating Conference.
The conference members produce the revenue estimates that guide lawmakers in setting the state budget. Their projections have a major influence on government because officials are legally required to balance the state budget.
The conference met this morning for the final time before the Legislature will end the 2009 session. The conference estimated that the current year’s revenues will sink by $129.7 million compared to its December estimate. Revenue for the budget year that begins July 1 will drop by $269.9 million.
The drop is in addition to December’s estimates, which cut $99.5 million in the current year and $132.6 million in the fiscal year that begins July 1.
Charlie Krogmeier, Gov. Chet Culver's chief of staff and a member of the conference, said federal stimulus money may help offset the blow but that the dramatically lower estimates will leave lawmakers with tough options.
It would be difficult to find enough job cuts and furloughs in the current fiscal year to fill the gap. The fiscal year ends June 30, in roughly 10 weeks.
“It’s going to be a struggle in the next week or two to figure this out,” Krogmeier said.
Culver, in December, called for a 1.5 percent across-the-board cut in the current fiscal year and recommended another 6.5 percent to be cut from spending requests for the upcoming fiscal year.
Culver and his staff were already preparing for more cuts and may resubmit the budget as soon as next week, said Dick Oshlo, administrator of the Iowa Department of Management.
Oshlo was more optimistic than Krogmeier, saying he doesn’t believe job cuts will be needed in the current fiscal year, largely due to the influx of federal stimulus money. There may be pain ahead for the fiscal year that begins July 1, however, he said.
House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy attended the Revenue Estimating Conference but left quickly before answering any questions and couldn’t immediately be reached for comment.
McCarthy and other Democratic leaders noted on Thursday that they were already planning a budget that was $130 million less than Culver’s in the upcoming fiscal year. It’s unclear how they will make up the additional $270 million loss for the current and upcoming year.
Lawmakers will be forced to go through the state’s remaining $5.8 billion budget line by line to find the savings, said Rep. Scott Raecker, R-Urbandale, the top-ranking Republican on the House Appropriations Committee.
“What’s it’s going to require of the Llegislature is what it requires for every Iowa family and business right now,” Raecker said.
Culver issued a statement shortly after today's conference, saying his office would work quickly with lawmakers.
“While important decisions have to be made, I am optimistic that we will come together and develop solutions to meet these economic challenges,” Culver said in the statement. “From balancing the budget to investing in new jobs, we will do what’s necessary to provide a better, brighter future for all Iowans.”
Democratic leaders in both the House and Senate issued a joint statement that promised no tax increases will be proposed as a result of the most recent estimates.
House Republican Leader Kraig Paulsen, R-Hiawatha, said the economic downturn has been compounded by the state’s overspending, a problem he blamed on Democrats. He further criticized accomplishments made so far in this year’s legislature.
“The legislature needs to stop wasting time on department bills, government commissions, and renaming agencies,” Paulsen said. “There are more than 80,000 Iowans out of work and the state needs the legislature to start focusing on economic growth, job opportunities and encouraging employers to invest in our workforce to head off further economic problems."
February 26, 2009
Democratic leaders release budget targets
The Democratic majority in the House and Senate released joint budget targets and recommended a 2 percent deeper cut than the Governor's budget for a total of 8.5 percent budget reduction in the base budgets of each individual appropriation subcommittee.
Over the next few weeks, the co-chairs of each appropriation sub committee will be making decisions on each individual line item. Stay tuned for the latest updates regarding UNI's budget situation as we move forward in the legislative process.
February 13, 2009
Weekend Forums
Saturday, February 14
Ames City Council Chambers -- 515 Clark Avenue, Ames -- 8:30am
Smokey Row -- 109 S Market Street, Oskaloosa -- 8:30am
Spencer City Hall -- 418 2nd Avenue West, Spencer -- 9:00am
Northwest Community Center -- 5110 Franklin Avenue, Des Moines -- 9:00am
Washington County Courthouse -- 222 West Main Street, Washington -- 10:00am
Farm Bureau -- 514 8th Street, DeWitt -- 11:00am
Lamoni Community Center -- 108 S Chestnut Street, Lamoni -- 11:00
February 3, 2009
UNI needs your support!
Over the next few weeks, please take in a forum, write your local legislator, and maybe even write a letter to your local newspaper showcasing your support for UNI and why it needs to remain a legislative priority even in these tough times. Educating the workforce of tomorrow is the purest and most effective economic development measure any society can take.
Still no significant movement with the budget process as of yet, but contacting your local elected leaders is still extremely important. Putting the bug in their ear at the beginning of the legislative session about the importance of higher education can only help the UNI cause as the legislature moves along to the budget negotiations.