Return to Table of ContentsBy Malcolm Webb
On Jan. 8, the State Budget Agency issued its recommendations for Indiana's 1997-1999 budget to the State Budget Committee. For Indiana University, the Budget Agency recommended increasing IU's operating appropriation by $21 million, a 5.7 percent increase (2.4 percent in 1997-98 compounded by a 3.2 percent in 1998-99). This is about half of the $41.3 million increase recommended by the Indiana Commission for Higher Education (HEC).
Don Weaver, IU special assistant to the president for state relations, is responsible for tracking IU's budget request through the legislative process.
The legislative leadership, according to Weaver, has made it clear that they want to limit increases in spending to within the amount of anticipated new revenues. However, the Budget Agency recommendation left approximately $100 million of the anticipated new revenue undesginated, giving Gov. Frank O'Bannon some flexibility to make adjustments reflecting the priorities of his administration.
"It is important to note that for all of higher education, the amount required to get from the Budget Agency recommendation to the commission recommendation is about $27 million in the first year," said Weaver. "Given the state's current condition, this is a 'do-able' amount for the state if legislators decide to make higher education a priority."
Ways and Means Committee hearings on the higher education portion of the state's budget are scheduled Jan. 28-29. IU's hearing is scheduled at 9 a.m. on Jan. 29.