State funding may increase
By Laura Pelner
Campus
Editor
Indiana's House Ways and Means Committee voted
in favor of a revised budget plan Tuesday that would give Purdue more
money than officials expected.
Terry Strueh, vice president for state relations,
said Purdue's budget would increase by 2.5 percent in the first year
of the two-year plan and 3.8 percent in the second year.
This means Purdue would get $229 million in the
first year and $237.8 million in the second year.
"It certainly doesn't solve all of our fiscal concerns,"
said Strueh. "But it is a step in the right direction. It's clear with
the dollars the state has available that education is a high priority."
Joe Bennett, vice president for University relations,
agreed the proposal looks promising though he said it's not what Purdue
hoped. "It still does not give us the resources we requested," said
Bennett. "It does not meet the recommendations of the Commission for
Higher Education."
Strueh said the dollar increase is a nominal one.
"I haven't calculated the inflationary impact," said Strueh. "It's a
fair assumption that inflation has been running in the 2 to 2.5 percent
range."
Although the state's inflation has stayed steady,
Strueh said Purdue's inflation costs have increased and Purdue would
still have some problems even with more money.
The money from this budget plan would go to Purdue's
operating budget, which Bennett said provides money for University supplies,
expenses, salaries and pay raises.
Bennett said, though, the amount is less than was
requested.
Another part of the plan, the capital budget, will
provide money for on-campus buildings.
Strueh said this part would fund a new computer
science building, the engineering Millennium Building and the renovations
of the Mechanical Engineering Building.
Bennett said the capital budget plan does not include
funds for the Visual and Performing Arts Center.
This budget may change when the state's next revenue
forecast comes out in early April, which Strueh said is the critical
element.
It's also important to remember this plan is tentative.
"This is just out of the Ways and Means Committee," said Strueh. "Early
next week it will go to the full House; it's highly likely they will
pass it. Then the bill goes to the Senate and starts the process all
over again in the Senate Finance Committee and the full Senate."
Strueh said there are usually differences between
the Senate and House versions of proposals, so after the bill goes through
these stages a committee will reconcile the differences.
"The earliest this would occur is late April,"
said Strueh.
Bennett said he hopes the budget will get better
as it goes through the process.
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