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.
April 17, 2008
Regents cautiously optimistic about education budget
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Specific funding details not yet finalized
By Brian Morelli
Iowa City Press-Citizen
Iowa public higher education officials will not receive their full asking from the state, but it appears they will maintain the status quo after a strong year of funding last year.
"We expect good, solid revenues for the rest of 2008 and 2009, which keeps us hopeful the salary bill will be fully or near fully funded, which is our priority," said Andy Baumert, interim executive director of the Iowa state Board of Regents. "I have reason for cautious optimism."
The regents oversee Iowa's three public universities, including the University of Iowa.
Specific details of the $6.1 billion state budget are not yet finalized, but state officials say the general fund appropriation will get about the same funding as last year, and the salary bill will receive 90 percent funding.
"It does not get into details about the various levels of education. It's a very broad balance sheet," Baumert said of figures state Democrats released this week.
The state budget likely will be the last bill passed before the session wraps up next week, said State Sen. Robert Dvorsky, D-Coralville, who is chairman of the appropriations committee.
Regents can expect about $42 million in salary funding, Dvorsky said, which is slightly less than the $44.6 million regents were asking for, but up about $1 million from last year. The $42 million represents half of the total budget for state salaries, Dvorsky said.
"In the past, they didn't have money to give raises. If they did, they left positions unfilled. Now they can fill those positions," Dvorsky said.
The general fund appropriation will be about the same as last year, Dvorsky said, which was $687.5 million. The state gave higher education a $70 million windfall last year after years of budget cuts. Overall, the regents received about $717 million plus another $33 million for building, also called capital projects, last year.
Dvorsky said capital projects -- regents were asking for $10 million for deferred maintenance -- is one area that will see cuts this year. Several smaller initiatives, such as a math and science program, enhanced campus security systems and an economic development fund will not be fully funded, Dvorsky said, but he did not know the specific breakdown.
The regents had requested $770 million overall this year for operating costs and $50 million for capital projects.
"I think they are really in pretty good shape. They were in pretty good shape. I think with the largest increase in history last year, if we could maintain the budget and fund salaries, we are in pretty good shape," Dvorsky said.
UI received $311.7 million last year for its general fund budget and $25.6 million for capital projects, when the regents finished divvying up the pot.
State Rep. Vicki Lensing, D-Iowa City, said she thinks this year's higher education budget will be positive for the UI community.
"I think it is good because they had an increase last year. This particular budget, on all fronts a status quo budget, I would think our area would be pleased with that," Lensing said.