College System's budget request tops $1 billion

The spending proposal for 1999-2001 calls for a 45 percent increase to cover expected 6 percent growth in enrollment each year, a 4 percent pay raise for faculty each year, and the start of a dental school at UNLV.

The proposed budget will be presented to regents at a meeting Friday in Elko, and approval is expected.

The big percentage jump comes at a time when state tax collections are below expected amounts. Gov. Bob Miller has asked agencies to be conservative in presenting their budgets, which are due Aug. 15.

State Budget Director Perry Comeaux said the university system received "fairly significant increases in the last two sessions (of the Legislature). This time they may not. It may be a maintenance budget."

In 1997, the Legislature approved a 29.1 percent increase in the operating budget for the university system.

The preliminary budget presented to the regents in May was just under $1 billion. But Tom Anderes, vice chancellor for finance for the university system, said later, more accurate figures resulted in the higher figure.

Of the total $1.1 billion budget request, $881 million would come from the state, a 51 percent increase. Student fees would total $177.3 million, a 34.2 percent increase. Another $69.8 million would come from other sources such as the estate tax and federal government.

Top priority in the budget is to handle enrollment growth. Anderes said that alone will cost $59.8 million. In addition, library staff and books, plus security, counselors and student service are needed and that will cost another $59.5 million.

There's also $35.9 million for the 4 percent per year pay raises for faculty; and $1.5 million to expand the Great Basin College in Elko from a two-year program to four years.

Other top-priority items include:

-$57.4 million for new and replacement equipment and expanded technology.

-$14.7 million for expanded health education, including starting the dental school at UNLV.

-$25.2 million for "selected initiatives" such as a $3 million program to produce more public school teachers, $4 million for expanded research, and extra money for "gender equity" in athletics at UNLV and the University of Nevada, Reno.

-$25.6 million to revise the formulas for student and school support programs. This includes enhanced safety and security and affirmative action programs.

Besides the university budget, the state Board of Education wants a $2 billion budget or a 37 percent increase for support of K-12 public schools.

Together, education and the university want $2.3 billion from the state treasury in the next two years. The entire state's general fund budget for the present two years is $3.2 billion.

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