The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current, February 20, 1975, Image 1
muyKwmimmmiMmMmtMammmmmmmTm-mr-l T-iiyr-i ti mHMP)rnwiJ mmAuix nwiimniWMiMiiwjiwwmiiimmniww. n urn ilhu ii.iih.ul LiiiirirrjuuLDimjim. lunminwmi.m f i ill m : v hHMaMtt,MJif, I. Marvel questions Exon's NU budget By Chuck Beck and Gina Hills Gov. J. James Exon has suggested making the University of Nebraska budget a lump-sum grant allowing the Board of Regents and administrators to set their own spending priorities. Bht the constitutionality of his suggestion may be questioned, State Sen. Richard Marvel of Hastings said Wednesday. Hie Legislature now delegates state tax money to stale agencies according to the provisions of the state constitution, Marvel said. He said the Legislature would lose its money-delegating power if individual state agencies decided how funds should be allocated within their programs. 'Run for regent' "If Senator Marvel wants to run the University, he can run for regent," Exon said in a telephone interview from Washington D.C. Exon said he proposed the lump-sum budget because he thinks the University has a well-qualified Board of Regents and good administrators, who should allocate the money as they see fit. Gov. J. James Exon. thursday, february 20, 1975 lincoln, nebraska vol. 98 no. 85 chilli nobrastan February paychecks OK The state Department of Administrative Services (DAS) has tentatively assured UNL that February faculty salaries will be paid, according to Miles Tommeraasen, vice chancellor for business and finance. "Our systems office has been in contact with DAS," he said. "We haven't received any written notice yet, but the DAS assured the NU systems people that the payroll would go through." After a story in last Friday's Daily Nebraskan about faculty salaries possibly not being paid, Tommeraasen said his office was flooded with phone calls from faculty members. "Naturally, every employe worries about getting paid," he said. "No one department . ' "X 'L w M x ---f '' . I : . L .V - J . I 1 hV i ' ; h : - - mmJ" '"' "'ti&fc . "-". Miles Tommeraasen, vice chancellor for business and finance seemed to stand out. We received calls from everyone." The faculty had nothing to worry about, according to Jon Oberg, budget analyst for DAS. "We weren't aware of any problems," Oberg said. "We checked into the budget and found the University had more than enough money to meet February salary demands." The DAS does not expect any future salary payment problems, he said. Robert Lovitt, UNL comptroller, said Wednesday that although money can be found for paying February salaries, the process used to obtain the money is "just pushing the problem further back." Lovitt said a larger portion of the entire year's university budget has been allocated to pay the salaries for the partial year, including April. This, he said, will mean that at the end of the year, the university will be faced with the same problem. He said the extra funds from over-estimated budgets have still not been released, as reported in Friday's Daily Nebraskan. Apparently some faculty members also took the possibility more seriously than others. Max Larsen, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, said there definitely was concern voiced by faculty members. Donald Edwards, associate dean of the College of Engineering and Technology, said he was not aware of any faculty questions about salaries. Business Administration College Dean Ronald Smith said no complaints about payment of salaries were brought to his attention. "I haven't followed it closely," he said. "I haven't actively sought reactions, but I haven't heard of any either. I'm sure the state will meet its obligations and the faculty will be paid one way. or another." m m m rersmng compeimon saw Some downtown planners are concerned that the new UNL sports complex will compete with Pershing Auditorium for money-making events, but officials from the two centers say they expect to coordinate their efforts. Miles Tommeraasen, UNL vice chancellor for business and finance, said the only business the field house will take away from Pershing is commencement exercises. "Pershing can kiss that good-bye right now," he said. Tommeraasen estimated the cost of having the ceremony in the auditorium at $600. "That's the only event you can really put your finger on," he said. Concerts and state high school and professional basketball games will probably not be held in the fieldhouse, he said. $2,000 a day costs "We're not going to want to have these events in the fieldhouse if possible," Tommeraasen said. It will depend on whether or not the state will pay fieldhouse operating costs, which could be as much as $2,000 per day, he said. : If the state pays these costs, the University shouldn't need to solicit "extra business, Tommeraasen said. Paul Amen, a member of Lincoln's Downtown (DAC) said Pershing to cooperate with the Advisory Committee officials seem willing University. "If the University gets operating funds," he said, "they're not going to be concerned with scheduling other events." State would pay tab The Legislature's Appropriations Committee is considering introducing a bill that would put the operating costs on the state's tab, according to William Swanson, UNL vice president for governmental relations. He said he does not know when it might be introduced. The DAC, according to chairman Richard White, is encouraging plans to expand Pershing for additional city use. "We would hate to sec events that would bring people to Lincoln held at the fieldhouse because it's so far from downtown," White said. Pershing is "much better suited for conventions," he added. Pershing Manager Ike Hoig said he is not concerned over a possible loss of business. "They (those in charge of the fieldhouse) will be busier than hell just taking care of sports events," he said. Sec related story, p. 14 Exon requested a $71.6 million budget for the University. The Legislative fiscal analyst proposed a $74.6 million budget. D.B. Varner, president of the University, proposed an $86.3 million budget and said he was disappointed in both Exon's and the analyst's proposals. "It's obvious that some things will have to be eliminated if we don't receive the budget we requested," he said. More money More money is needed for the University because operating expenses are higher this year, he added. Office equipment and supplies for the University cost more this year than last, Varner said. But Varner said he favors the lump-sum appropriation because budgeting state funds to University programs would make it easier to transfer money from one department to another; Lincoln Regent Ed Schwartzkopf agreed that the University administrators and regents should have the power to determine where money is allocated. Schwartzkopf said the regents are "handcuffed" without the ability to budget state tax dollars to University programs. Mixed feelings Regent Robert Prokop of Omaha said he has mixed feelings about Exon's recommendation for a lump-sum budget. Prokop said he is concerned about the trade craft employes at the University. "It's the people on the bottom who are most affected by the inflationary scale," he said. "If you give a 10 per cent raise across the board, for exampke, the people making $50,000 a year would get $5,000, but those making $5,000 would only get $500. "In addition, even though the Board of Regents would be primarily responsible for appropriating the budget, the administration would do the greatest share of appropriating," Prokop said. No time "When you lump sum appropriate, many regents don't take or have the time to do it, so they trust the administrative team," Prokop said. Regent Robert Raun of Minden said he thinks the University will suffer if it has to work within the limits of the governor's proposed budget. He added, however, that the lump-sum appropriation would add flexibility to the budget. "It just doesn't seenv realistic now," he said. "I don't think it will pass the Legislature." t ..-- rf-"-"-"" ; Jj I -. 7 V fX .... 7 ' : ' f : I '"" , J " ' f f ' ,1 State Sen. Richard Marvel of Hastings. ) , 'i t s