Olympia Update

To WSU President Sam Smith 1997, No. 4

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.