Faculty and staff salary increases will be the first priority for Iowa State if a $30 million boost in funding for state universities is approved, a top ISU official said.

Gov. Tom Vilsack called for the increase in his annual budget proposal. During his Condition of the State speech on Jan. 13, he pledged to provide extra money for education through an increase in sales and cigarette taxes.

Warren Madden, vice president for business and finance, said the proposal was heartening.

“There is a level of increase for the regent universities and that is certainly encouraging in the context of the recent budget cuts we’ve had,” Madden said.

He said it was likely the money would fund faculty and staff salary increases, which were in jeopardy after Vilsack declined to submit a salary request to the General Assembly this session.

“The regents’ highest priority was maintaining competitive faculty and staff salaries,” Madden said.

ISU President Gregory Geoffroy agreed that funding salary increases would be the university’s first priority in deciding how to use extra funds.

Despite the increase, the proposal lags behind past state allocations.

“The budget cuts we’ve had have taken us back to 1996-97 levels,” Madden said.

Overall, he said, the university has seen a cut of about $110 million in the past three years.

Geoffroy and Madden said the university had not seen details on how $15.4 million set aside by Vilsack for regent capital projects would be used.

Vilsack also reserved $1.8 million for National Guard loans and $1.9 million for Iowa tuition grants.

The proposal now goes to the Iowa Legislature for approval, where modifications may be made, Geoffroy said.

“In the past, the legislature always seems to make significant revisions to the governor’s budget proposal, and I expect them to do the same this year,” he said.

Madden said the Board of Regents will make the final decision on how extra funds would be used after hearing recommendations from the universities. He said the legislature could also provide some direction on how funds would be used.