CSU OKs budget request

By Carrie Porche Jones, On-Line Forty-Niner

Monday, November 2, 1998

The California State University Board of Trustees unanimously approved the CSU budget request in a statewide telephonic meeting on Thursday, Cal State Long Beach President Robert Maxson said at the Academic Senate meeting.

The items included in the approved budget request are base budget items, and if revenues come in as the state is projecting, Maxson said, there will be requests for a one time appropriation of $10 million for the University Library, $15 million for replacement of structural equipment and $20 million for deferred maintenance.

The budget request will go to the governor and the Legislature for consideration in their next meeting, Maxson said.

"There is a bit of optimism about the budget," Maxson said. "Obviously the new governor will want to leave his print on that budget, but in meeting with the financial analysts, the figures are lined up right."

Outlining the high points of the budget request, Maxson said students will not pay any few fees, and in fact there was a five-percent rollback of fees last year. The request includes an overall four-percent increase in the budget for inflation, an extra three percent to cover additional student enrollment.

Maxson said $25 million has been requested for technology. He said this budget item is important because it will be made a base part of the yearly budget.

The difference in the budget request for an average salary increase of four percent for staff and an average salary increase of six percent for faculty is justified as a method to close a recognized California Peer Evaluation Committee gap, Maxson said.

"I am mindful, very mindful, that when you have people working on a campus and there is one set of raises for one group and another set of raises, there is always a bit of discomfort," Maxson said. "I am very sensitive to that. As much as I want to close the gap, I also worry about the men and women who work here."

Consideration of the rough draft of the plans for implementation of Cornerstones, the initial phase of the new general education program to begin next fall, was postponed until the next meeting.