Gov. Tom Vilsack’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2004 could mean more money for universities through the reinstatement of work-study programs.

He is proposing a budget that aids in financing education, health care and the environment and does not increase taxes, according to Vilsack’s fiscal year 2004 report.

“We are proposing a status quo budget that allows us to maintain what we have without taking a step back,” he said in a statement to the Legislature.

Vilsack’s budget proposal includes funding all levels of education. At the college level, he proposed reinstating the state work-study program, increasing the Iowa Tuition Grant and increasing community college funding.

Rep. Jane Greimann, D-Ames, said Vilsack also proposed legislation to fund professor’s salaries.

“He’s going to completely fund salaries at the university level,” she said. “Because we’re fully funding salaries, I think that’s a great step.”

Rep. Jim Kurtenbach, R-Ames, said the Iowa Board of Regents and other university employees favor the proposed budget.

“Everybody is optimistic,” he said. “The reality is, can we fully fund salaries?”

Greg Nichols, executive director of the Board of Regents, said universities have seen several years of decreased funding.

“If I were to characterize the whole proposal, I would say that we’re hopeful there will be action in these areas,” he said.

Nichols said Vilsack’s proposals will help universities.

“If the Legislature would adopt these programs from the governor — the full funding of salaries, the reinstatement of work study and the operating budgets for the universities — these are all clearly positive,” he said.

Steffen Schmidt, university professor of political science, said legislation funding salaries could be beneficial to Iowa State. “One of the problems is that we’ve been losing faculty who are being hired away from us,” he said. “That’s probably something that will help us keep the very competitive faculty that are being hired away.”

Greimann and Schmidt agree students would greatly benefit from the reinstatement of work study.

“I think certainly work study is extremely important because it provides financial resources for those students who have trouble paying tuition,” he said.

Greimann said it’s important to remember Vilsack’s goals are only proposed budget ideas. “Now we have to work very hard to convince the majority party that this is the way we should go,” she said.

ISU President Gregory Geoffroy was unavailable for comment on Monday.