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K-Statement
Budgeting for improvements
"Frankenstein" may live no longer.
The room that came to symbolize the problems with deferred maintenance on Kansas college campuses, the Power Plant's "Frankenstein" electrical room, pictured right, will most likely be one of the first fixes at K-State as part of the funding plan legislators recently passed.
K-State will receive $9 million for deferred maintenance in fiscal year '08, which begins July 1. K-State administrators will soon present plans to the Board of Regents for use of the monies. Sue Peterson, director of governmental relations at K-State, said the highest need areas previously identified at K-State include the "Frankenstein Room," as well as Memorial Stadium and the roof of Willard Hall. The $9 million is in addition to $4 million from the Educational Building Fund and $3.5 million of K-State's own money from interest on tuition and other revenues, for repairs in FY '08.
"It's not enough but it's a place to start," Peterson said of the deferred maintenance funding. K-State's backlog of repairs total about $230 million, with about $20 million added each year. This is the first time since 1999, with the "crumbling classrooms" initiative, that K-State has had money beyond the Educational Building Fund from the state to spend on maintenance projects.
Legislators recommended a 2.6 percent pay increase for unclassified staff and faculty members. Although 2.6 percent is the base increase, the raises will be placed in a merit pool, so internal decisions could reflect differences in actual raise percentages around campus, Peterson said.
Classified employees will receive a 2 percent base increase along with a one-time $860 bonus to be paid Dec. 14. In addition, about 186 positions at K-State have been identified as having a salary more than 25 percent below market, based on a recent study. Employees in these positions will receive 5 percent base increases in pay, rather than 2 percent. The longevity bonus payment will increase from $40 per year to $50 for classified employees.
All raises will go into effect July 1.
Peterson said the legislators are looking to change the entire statewide classified employee pay structure, so the funding for raises was done outside of the structure.
The Board of Regents block grant, for distribution to universities, this year included -- for the first time in recent memory, Peterson said -- an operating budget increase. The amount of the increase is still unknown, although Peterson said it was what was recommended by the governor when she submitted her budget.
"This was very welcome and appreciated," she said of the operating budget increase.
The legislature also unanimously approved three resolutions in support of the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility coming to Kansas. Two locations in Kansas, including one on K-State's campus, are finalists for the project.
Although this "busy" session is over, Peterson said there are many initiatives to look to next year, including maintaining salary increases and deferred maintenance funding.
"Now that the state has a little more money, it is a good time to focus on the value of higher education," Peterson said.
In addition, Peterson said a new budgeting model for the Board of Regents will take up some time next session. 2008 is also an election year for both the state House and the Senate.
"That always brings its own dynamic," she said.
May 17,
2007 / Vol. 29, No. 21
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