Purdue News

Higher Education Recommendations All eyes will be on the 1997 session, which, of course, will determine public universities' state appropriations for the coming biennium.

The universities' budget requests have now been reviewed by the Commission for Higher Education, and a joint hearing has been held by the State Budget Committee. The commission's recommendations to the committee also have been completed.

Between now and the end of January, the new O'Bannon administration will work with the State Budget Committee to develop their budget recommendations. Our goal will be to convince them to adopt the commission's recommendations as the starting point for legislative committee deliberations. While the Commission for Higher Education did not recommend our total request, we are pleased with their recommendations on the University Operating and Capital request and the Statewide Technology request. Other line items received only a maintenance budget increase.

Here are the key differences between Purdue's request and the commission's recommendations:

• Maintenance of Existing Operations: Purdue requested a 4 percent adjustment each year; the commission recommended 4 percent on salaries and 3 percent on all other expenses.

• Technology: Purdue requested 2 percent in each year; the commission recommended 1 percent each year as part of our ongoing operating budget and 1 percent as a one-time expenditure. These funds will greatly assist each campus in adopting new technology in the classroom to create the learning environment our students expect.

• Student Fees: Purdue assumed a 4 percent fee increase each year; the commission's recommendation is 3 percent for in-state undergraduates and 4 percent on all other fees. This resulted in an additional state appropriation to "buy down" in-state fees, which we see as a positive development.

• Line Items: All Statewide Technology requests, except for a bachelor of science degree program at the South Bend and Elkhart sites, were recommended beginning in 1998-99. We had hoped to receive full funding in 1997-98 for all programs, but this recommendation will make it possible to phase them in. The Technical Assistance Program and Agriculture line-item request are two areas that we need to address, since neither was recommended for expansion.

• Capital Budget: Purdue requested full funding of the Repair and Rehabilitation (R & R) formula, including the expansion of the formula to include such infrastructure items as sidewalks, streets and utility tunnels. The commission supported the request, but recommended a four-year phase-in of the infrastructure addition, which we see as an acceptable compromise

Heading into the session, here's how construction comparisons stack up between our request and the commission's recommendation.

	Purdue Request	Commission Recommendation
Calumet
Anderson Building	$8,000,000	$8,000,000
Completion of Classroom/Office Building	1,800,000	1,800,000
West Lafayette
Completion of Food Science	10,500,000	10,500,000
Utility Upgrade	35,000,000	16,000,000
Fort Wayne
Completion of Science Building	6,580,000	6,580,000
North Central
Multipurpose Building	12,000,000	0

In addressing higher education's capital priorities, the commission decided to restrict their recommendation to an amount that would keep debt service on all debt to no more than 10 percent of the operating appropriation. Commissioners also elected to prioritize projects that either were health and safety related, necessary for the completion of projects already partially authorized or for buildings needed to meet expanded enrollments. Purdue supports this approach and the recommendations.

Legislature Getting Set

After a bit of a contentious beginning, the legislature has now selected its leadership for the next two years in anticipation of the opening session day on January 7.

As had been expected, Republicans maintained firm control of the Senate, meaning there were relatively few leadership changes in that chamber. Sen. Bob Garton of Columbus retains his position of president pro tem of the Senate and Sens. Larry Borst and Morris Mills, both of Indianapolis, retain their respective positions as chairs of the Senate Finance Committee and the Budget Subcommittee. There were changes in the Democratic leadership. Sen. Richard Young is now minority floor leader, replacing Sen. Bob Hellmann.

Hoosier voters again pulled off a balancing act in the House of Representatives, with another even split of 50 Republicans and 50 Democrats. The last time this occurred, co-speakers and co-committee chairs were named. But a recently passed law provides for control of the body to be retained by the party of the governor. As a result, the Democrat caucus selected Rep. John Gregg of Sandborn as the new speaker.

The issues that prompted protracted discussion between the Republicans and Democrats dealt with the representation on the committees of the House. The issue was resolved with a compromise that called for all House committees to have a one-person majority from the Democrats. The two exceptions are the Rules Committee, which will have a two-person majority for the Democrats, and the Ways and Means Committee, on which the Democrats will enjoy a three-person advantage.

And just to make things a bit more interesting, there's still a contested election in the House, which is now being recounted. The seat currently is occupied by a Democrat. If the result should be reversed, the result would be a 51-49 seat advantage for the Republicans, and doubtless more great debate to determine leadership!

A Note to PLAN and CARET Friends

We very much appreciated the opportunity to visit with many members of the Purdue Legislative Awareness Network and the Council on Agricultural Research, Extension and Teaching during our "Purdue Powers the Future" tour throughout the state this summer and fall. President Steven Beering joins us in expressing appreciation for your many efforts on behalf of the University.

Our visits took us to 33 different sites that clearly showed how Purdue resources power people, businesses, factories and farms all over Indiana. We returned from these visits with the firm conviction that Purdue continues to provide important and valued assistance throughout the Hoosier state. We were delighted that a number of you were able to join us for these sessions.

We also were pleased that so many of you were able to join us for a special informational program on the West Lafayette campus last month, along with the memorable Purdue-Michigan football game. The demonstrations on the use of new technology in the classroom were helpful to those in attendance in better understanding the enthusiasm for this technology. It is clearly a powerful tool and one that must be available to Purdue students.

We look forward to greeting many of you the afternoon of December 14 in Indianapolis for a reception and the Boilermaker Blockbuster basketball games.

To all of you, many thanks for your efforts on behalf of Purdue and the very best of this season's greetings.

Watch for the next edition of Statehouse Update once the 1997 session is off and running.

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