A new education budget is decided every year by legislators in the Iowa House and Senate, but none has ever caused quite as much controversy as this year’s budget.

Three conflicting proposals for the 2001-2002 academic year have been brought before the Iowa House — each with varying consequences for Iowa’s regent institutions.

Budgets proposed by the state Board of Regents, Gov. Tom Vilsack and the Iowa House of Representatives fluctuate wildly in how much money state universities would receive. Depending on which proposal is approved, Iowa State could stand to lose $11 million in state money.

Differing budgets

Every year, the regent universities receive base appropriations from the state. Iowa State’s base for the 2001-2002 academic year would be about $263 million.

In addition to this, Iowa State asked the Board of Regents for money to finance strategic plan goals and priorities, for library and academic information-technology expenses and for other general university expenses such as inflation and mandatory cost increases in utilities and materials. This money would also be used for the operating costs of opening new buildings such as Howe Hall and the Design Auditorium, said Rabindra Mukerjea, assistant to ISU President Martin Jischke.

Mukerjea said Iowa State requested $21.5 million from the regents for its 2001-2002 general operating funds, which includes strategic plan priorities and general expenses. The regents then made a recommendation to the governor that Iowa State should receive $10.6 million.

However, proposals from state legislators and the governor would cut Iowa State’s request even more drastically.

Vilsack’s budget proposal allotted only about $2.9 million above the base appropriation for Iowa State’s general expenses — $18.6 million less than Iowa State’s request and $7.7 million less than the Board of Regents’ recommendation.

The education budget supported by state Legislature Republicans would fund Iowa State even less. This proposal would not allocate any additional funds to Iowa State and would cut the university’s existing appropriation by $11 million.

Although the amount proposed by the regents is less than what Iowa State originally requested, it would have covered Iowa State’s general expenses and several strategic plan priorities. The amount proposed in Vilsack’s budget and the Legislature will not.

Mukerjea said the Legislature’s budget is equivalent to cutting $5.7 million from Iowa State’s 1999-2000 budget. While the Legislature’s budget does provide $2.5 million for the Plant Sciences Institute, it does not provide any financing for opening and operating new buildings or cost increases. This results in an actual cut of $3.2 million from Iowa State’s budget.

Mukerjea said the Legislature expects the university to finance these projects with money from the general fund. This means that Iowa State may potentially lose $7.5 million in its budget, Mukerjea said.

“This is not a trivial issue,” he said. “There will be grave consequences if this happens.”

Salary increase looming

In addition to these basic expenses, Mukerjea said Iowa State also will be facing a predetermined 4 percent salary increase for its faculty and staff.

The university requested almost $12 million to meet this increase from the Board of Regents. The regents also agreed on the amount and recommended it to the Legislature, which will vote in April on the money it will appropriate to the universities for salaries.

But Mukerjea said based on indications so far, Iowa State could fall short by $3.5 million in salary-fund appropriation.

Regent Ellengray Kennedy said any tuition increase implemented by the universities would still not be enough to cover the salary-fund cuts.

“To have this continue is really outrageous,” she said.

After the salary cuts, the cuts from the general fund and the opening and operating of new buildings, Mukerjea said Iowa State could be facing an $11 million cut in state funding.

Jischke said these reductions would be “tantamount to eliminating a college at Iowa State,” and he and other administrators are working to find solutions.

“This proposition is really terrible,” he said. “We need to make clear to the people of Iowa the consequences for them, not just the university.”

Regent David Neil also said the cuts would be a serious setback for the university.

“The Legislature has to understand that you can’t reduce yourself into quality,” he said.

Jischke said if the proposition passes, it will mean that Iowa State will have to reallocate its budget to make up for the $11 million cut.

“We’ve been focusing on trying to understand what the various implications will involve,” Jischke said. “We think they’re considerable.”

Regent Roger Lande said the cuts would create many effects, both short-term and long-term. Lande said short-term effects may include tuition increases, program cuts and research cuts, while the long-term effects created by these possible cuts could diminish the overall quality of the university.

‘Impact is on the students’

Ben Golding, Government of the Student Body president-elect, said he thinks many students will be directly affected by the proposed budget cuts.

“The Legislature sees our students as spoiled in a way since we have such low tuition,” he said. “The governor’s budget is bad, but the Legislature’s budget is worse for us.”

Jischke said the university only has a few options to make up for the lack of state financing. These may include a tuition increase, a reduction in the number of available classes, fewer research projects and fewer graduate and undergraduate programs.

Jischke said ISU administrators have not considered which programs or classes would be cut.

“We don’t want to do that until we’re absolutely certain that we have to,” he said. “I don’t want to do it.”

Jischke said he and other ISU officials have been watching the education appropriations committee meetings carefully and are working to prevent the approval of the proposed budget in the statehouse.

One of the ways officials are working toward the prevention of the budget adoption is by contacting legislators to express concern over the education cuts, Jischke said. He encouraged ISU students to do the same.

“The real impact is on the students,” he said. “I think the students have every right to speak out on these issues.”

Golding also said student involvement will be key if they want legislators to listen.

He said students can become involved by writing or e-mailing their senators and representatives in the statehouse. He said a list of each district’s legislators will be in the GSB office for students to use.

Golding also said GSB officials are planning a bus trip to Des Moines to lobby legislators in about three weeks. He said students can sign up in the GSB office for the trip, which will also include a discussion session and rally.

Golding said he hopes students realize the importance of the budget proposals and participate.

“If you don’t fight now, you’ll pay later,” he said. “We need your help.”