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House Plan Kinder to Murray State

Posted on: Wednesday, 8 March 2006, 06:00 CST

By Molly Harper, The Paducah Sun, Ky.

Mar. 8--MURRAY, Ky. -- While Murray State University "isn't out of the woods yet," Interim President Kern Alexander said having several major construction projects included in the House appropriations committee budget plan is happy news.

"I'm elated, I'm pleased, I'm excited about our prospects now," Alexander said in a crowded campus budget briefing Tuesday afternoon.

Alexander has been heavily involved in the budget process for higher education since January, when Gov. Ernie Fletcher's proposal excluded funding for the final phase of Murray's science building while giving the school the lowest general fund appropriation increase of any state university. Additional funding in the House committee version approved late Monday included:

$15 million for the third and final phase of the science building to be paid with bond funds. It is allocated for fiscal year 2006-07.

$150,000 to renovate the Princeton Education Center (was not included in Fletcher's recommendation).

$300,000 to design the planned Madisonville Education Center (was not in Fletcher's recommendation).

Alexander said a proposal for improving the Breathitt Veterinary Center in Hopkinsville was not funded, but he hopes for inclusion in the Senate's budget plan. "If we could just get the planning money for the building, we would have a complete package," Alexander said.

The House also raised benchmark funding for MSU operating costs to $624,900 in 2006-07 and $2,699,200 in 2007-08, a total increase of 6.3 percent. Alexander seemed the most pleased about that budget item, reminding the audience that the funds are recurring.

"Every year for the rest of our lives we'll be able to build the quality of this university with that base," he said.

The 2007-08 figure is so much larger because it includes $2 million for the "University Business Plan," which calls for the school to work closely with area high schools to recruit students, work with community colleges to help students make a smooth transition into a four-year degree program, and continue the residential college system and increased responsibilities for the faculty.

Alexander said he doesn't expect major changes in the House budget before final approval. He said the administration has been under considerable stress during the budget process, but that it would be good for any citizen to sit through a week of budget appropriations in Frankfort.

"It's not un-entertaining," he said. "It's most impressive to see the totality of the operations in the state and how many people are involved."

The budget recommendations recognize Murray's performance in terms of graduation and retention rates, said Don Sparks, chairman of the board of regents. Sparks said Alexander has lived in Frankfort for the last month, spending four out of five days at the Capitol persuading legislators to support the college.

"We're not there yet, I think you know that, but we've taken a giant step," Sparks said.

Student Regent Scott Ellison of St. Charles, Mo., said he was surprised and impressed by the House figures.

"It's going to be great to tell the students about all of the progress that's being made," he said, noting that each regional university is sending students to Frankfort today for an informational demonstration.

"We're going to talk to legislators and show them how much we care about our education, that we want fair funding for our schools," Ellison said.

Paducah Sun reporter Bill Bartleman contributed to this report.

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Copyright (c) 2006, The Paducah Sun, Ky.

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Source: The Paducah Sun

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