GOV. MIKE LOWRY ANNOUNCES 1997-99 BIENNIAL BUDGETS
FOR WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY
Gov. Mike Lowry announced Wednesday a $19.5 billion
1997-99 operating budget for the state with most enhancements
for higher education tied to two amendments in Initiative 601,
the voter-approved state spending limit. The proposed amendments
would eliminate provisions which the governor says artificially
reduces the spending limit whenever state agencies do not spend
up to the maximum. It would also take out of the spending limit
any state dollars that are used to replace federal cuts to "pass
through" entitlement programs. In other action, the governor
also unveiled a capital construction budget that will provide
more than $84 million in new WSU construction, renovation and
infrastructure projects.
$8.957 million for "Instructional Initiatives"
The governor recommended $7.4 million of the $10.5 million requested
for WSU`s learning and technology initiative. The funds are to
expand student and faculty access to computing, provide faculty
training and development, and create new course materials and
methods of instruction using new technologies. Also included
is $1.5 million of the requested $2.6 million for "Learning
Centers." Some electronic classrooms may be funded for
the K-20 network for community colleges, branch campuses, and
educational service districts. The governor provided $2 million
in matching funds to the state Higher Education Coordinating Board.
The budget requires institutions to "match" the funding
and gives priority to sites where there is cooperation among colleges
and universities.
More than 800 New Enrollments in 1998 for Pullman,
Spokane, Tri-Cities and Vancouver
Lowry`s budget provided $6.56 million
for 806 student FTE`s for the Washington State University system.
No enrollment increases were provided for next year but will
come in 1998. Lowry`s proposal would push WSU`s full-time equivalent
student count to 20,136 by adding 446 in Pullman, 71 in Spokane,
96 in Tri-cities and 193 in Vancouver.
Salary Increases
The Lowry budget provided a 2.5 percent
salary increase for 1997 and a 2.7 percent salary increase for
1998, the only enhancements in the budget which are not tied to
amending Initiatiative 601. There was no special salary enhancements
for research university faculty except the governor did provide
$2.25 million for a "faculty retention" pool that will
make selective raises possible at the University of Washington
and WSU. Of the $2.25 million, $750,000 is provided for WSU.
Tuition Increases
Tuition for all WSU students would increase at least 3.9 percent
in Fall, 1997, and 3.8 percent in 1998 under the Lowry budget
and an accompanying tuition bill he will submit to the 1997 Legislature.
The governor is also considering language to allow individual
institutions the flexibility to raise non-resident and graduate
tuition up to 10 percent. He provided $36.6 million to increase
state student financial aid in higher education.
Branch Campus Construction:
Unusual Funding for the WSU Health Sciences Building in
Spokane
Gov. Lowry provided $21 million of the $29 million
requested for a new Health Sciences building for the Joint Center
for Higher Education. The governor used an unusual funding method,
paying "cash" for the project out of the ending balance
for this current biennium, rather than using the bonded funding
method in the capital budget. Funding for other branch campus
locations was disappointing. WSU Vancouver received just $7.7
million toward`s its $19.5 million request to build out the
campus infrastructure and begin design of new Engineering/Life
Sciences and Communications Buildings. WSU Tri-Cities received
no funding for predesign of a Science Education Center and construction
of a Center for Agricultural Systems Evaluation.
Pullman: Three Major WSU-Pullman Construction
Projects Approved Lowry provided
$9.9 million to renovate WSU`s third largest classroom building,
historic Thompson Hall. Another major classroom project, the
renovation addition of Kimbrough Hall was also funded at $10.4
million. $17 million was provided for the renovation of Bohler
Gymnasium to meet the needs of women athletes. Funding was not
provided for the completion of Fulmer Hall renovation, a $13.6
million project. The governor`s budget also begins design work
on WSU`s only major new building, a Teaching and Learning Center
in the heart of campus. The governor proposed $2.594 million
to begin the design work on the university`s highest capital budget
priority.
