There is reason to be optimistic that a healthy compensation increase, plus Educational Retirement Contribution, might pass this session of the state legislature. That’s the view of UNM’s legislative team in Santa Fe. A five percent compensation increase is the goal approved by the Council of University Presidents and supported by the all the member institutions.
Acting UNM President David Harris said he is also encouraged because the governor and the legislature are close to alignment on many critical issues. The breakdown below shows the specific differences between the various budgets.
Budget items in bold...
Faculty Compensation - UNM request, 4.25 percent; Higher Education Department recommendation, 4.25 percent; DFA (Governor's) recommendation, 6 percent; Legislative Finance Committee Recommendation, 4.25 percent
Staff Compensation - UNM request, 4.25 percent; Higher Education Department recommendation, 4.25 percent; DFA (Governor's) recommendation, 5 percent; Legislative Finance Committee Recommendation, 4.25 percent
Ed. Retirement Comp. Increase - UNM request, .75 percent; Higher Education Department recommendation, .75 percent; DFA (Governor's) recommendation, 0 percent; Legislative Finance Committee Recommendation, .75 percent
Health Insurance - UNM request, 0 percent; Higher Education Department recommendation, 0 percent; DFA (Governor's) recommendation, 0 percent; Legislative Finance Committee Recommendation, 12 percent
Utility Costs - UNM request, 15.14 percent; Higher Education Department recommendation, 10 percent; DFA (Governor's) recommendation, 10 percent; Legislative Finance Committee Recommendation, 30 percent
Building Renewal - UNM request, 10 percent; Higher Education Department recommendation, 10 percent; DFA (Governor's) recommendation, 10 percent; Legislative Finance Committee Recommendation, 30 percent
Associate Vice President for Government and Community Relations Carlos Rey Romero and other UNM lobbyists are finding ways to convince lawmakers to fund UNM priorities, but Romero says even though the state has more money to spend this year, lawmakers are demanding higher standards of accountability for the way money is spent.
Right now none of the budget proposals include tuition credits, a mechanism the legislature frequently uses to balance the budget. A tuition credit is an assumption that the university will raise money the legislature chooses not to appropriate for university operating costs by increasing student tuition rates. Usually when the legislature includes a tuition credit, it forces university regents to pass tuition increases to keep the university in financial balance.
To follow the progress of individual UNM priorities, visit the UNM legislative Web site at: UNM Legislative Web site. Bill trackers are updated daily, and a Legislative calendar shows when individual bills are scheduled to be heard in committee.
Media Contact: Karen Wentworth, (505) 277-5627; e-mail: kwent2@unm.edu
Posted by scarr at February 1, 2007 05:10 PM