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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 5, 1979)
Wednesday, September 5, 1979 lincoln, nebraska vol. 103 no. 7 n (si s may gain from extra state funds School By Cindy Coglianese Active spending by Nebraskans last year has resulted in an excess of $42.5 million in tax revenues above Revenue Department projections when the fiscal year began July 1. Some state senators are calling for a special session to decide what to do with the extra money. Authorizing it for state educational aid is one of the possibilities presented by State Sen. Orval Keyes of Springfield. If the money is approved for state educational aid, some senators are predict ing a battle of the schools-the NU system versus public element and secondary 1 A- 1 tit f v t - I ) T " r Photo by M. Biliingsley Twelve-year-old Bobby Packett of Omaha achieves a feat that would normally take superhuman strength-giving an ele phant a piggyback ride. However, in this case, the elephant was stuffed, a prize Bobby won at September fest in Omaha last weekend. For related photos from an event closer to home the Nebraska State Fair-see page 13. Law officials suspect : foul play after UNL student disappears taw enforcement officials said Tuesday that foul play may have been involved in the disappearance last week of UNL senior Thomas A. Eyth. Eyth, 21, was last seen Sunday, Aug. 26 at a Lincoln sandwich shop with a friend,. According to Eyth's father, William Eyth of- Beatrice, Thomas left all of his clothes and personal possession in his fraternity room at Sigma Alpha Epsilon. A press conference was scheduled today at . 9:30 kstC where Lancaster County Attorney Ron Lahners and law enforce, ment officials were scheduled to discuss the disappearance then. r "We have to assume the possibility of foul play in ; cur investigation, Merle Hesser, deputy Lancaster County sheriff 1 said Tuesday. . . .. .. " Ifcsser, who was chief of police in Bea trice, where Eyth grew up, said he thought it unlikely that Eyth disappeared voluntar ily. "All the evidence we have indicates that this is not a typical student disappear ance," Eyth's father said. "It's been 10 days and we haven't heard anything.' "We want to find him to assure that foul play was not involved, or if foul play was involved, we want to get started on the case before it gets stale, said Detective Ron Tussing with the Lincoln Police Department."" . . I - Eyth" may be driving his 1974 metallic brown Firebird with Nebraska plates 3. A5950The car has not been found. Persons with information concerning Eyth's ; whereabouts . should contact the UNL Police, the Lincoln Police or the Lan caster County Sheriff. . schools. NU President Ronald Roskens told the Daily Nebraskan Tuesday, that his office is as aware of the money as "any other citizen, by virtue of reports from the state financial office." The excess money in the general fund was brought about by high farm prices, according to Keyes. An aide to Keyes said that Keyes, who had originally called for the special session, would like the money either to be used to lower state taxes or to be distributed in public schools, thus lowering property taxes. The aide said a battle could arise if the money is appropriated among the schools. He said NU, which normally takes a large share of state aid, and public schools-par-ticularly Omaha and Nebraska City-would be on opposite sides if the Legislature approves the excess revenue as educational state aid. VOTERS IN Omaha and Nebraska City this summer approved zero percent pro perty tax freezes for their school districts. Roskens said there was no doubt in his mind that education at all levels needs to be kept healthy, and that he did not foresee any battles among the schools if the money is appropriated to education. Although Roskens said -he has a personal preference as to how the money should be appropriated, he refused to comment on that preference, saying that it might be misconstrued to be representative of the NU system's thoughts. "We are aware of the increase in the balance' Roskens said4But Jwe, are note sitting here with bated breath waiting to jump on it." Roskens said the university has not sent any lobbyists to the Legislature at this time. WILLIAM SWANSON, NU vice presi dent of governmental relations and corpor ate secretary of the NU Board of Regents, said the university is not involved with the excess revenue matter because it is only pertinent to the Legislature and state administration. "All I know is what I read in the news papers," Swanson said. "We will be highly supportive of our proposed budget when we present it, but the purported excess is a matter of the Legislature." The university will go to the Legislature this month with a request for a 15 percent increase in state aid over last year for their 1980-81 operating budget. William Erskine, executive vice presi dent for administration, and Swanson agreed that no lobbyists have been sent from the university to support the use of excess revenues as state aid to education. it j j i t rx j. jveyes aiae saia me Revenue impair ment had projected an excess of $19,779,561 in unobligated tunas len from the 1978-79 fiscal year. On July 1, 1979, the first day of the 1979-80 fiscal year, the State Administrative Office reported a beginning balance of $62 million. The aide said the 1978-79 projec tion by the Revenue Department was underestimated by $8 million, which is now in the $42.5 million excess. THE $42.5 million figure is the dif ference between the projected unobligated balance of $19,779,561 and what was actually left over in the unobligated general fund ($62 million). Keyes said the reason for the excess revenue largely results from high prices, on farm commodities, creating more spend ing, thus pouring more money into the Revenue Department from sales income tax. A 3 to 7 percent reserve in the Revenue Department, as required by State law, amounts to $33,657,675, or 5.8 percent of the general fund. Keyes contends that the "cushion" figure is too high and could possibly be lowered to 4 percent, freeing $10 million -that cottid be used to lower state taxes or for educational purposes. This year, the Revenue Department is projecting that total funds for' appropria tions will amount to $601,629,404, based on last year's left-over balance and general funds available. According to Keyes' aide, using projec tions and increases from past years, he said Keyes' office is projecting at least $75 mil lion more than obligation at the, end of the 1979-80 fiscal year. Spending lids passed in Omaha and Nebraska City this summer have education officials and prospective teachers worried about education quality and job availability. See story on page 6. selection oi cueerieaderi needs revision Devaney By Sara Martens Athletic Director Bob Devaney said Tuesday a revision of the process used to select UNL cheerleaders is needed, follow ing the controversy that arose over the appointment ofx a black female cheer leader to the squaa. Devaney said the girl may be made an alternate this season and a second member next year, as proposed by members of the Yell Squad. By then Yell Squad adviser Bill Murphy "believes they will have her to a point where she can keep up with the routines." In a written statement issued Friday, Devaney defended the-appointment saying, "In view of the fact that the Yell Squad is part of the Athletic Department and funded solely by Athletic Department funds, we were concerned about the lack of minority representation on the Yell Squad. "After all, a large number of blacks are solid contributors to our athletic program arid we felt they should have represents? tion on the Yen Squad. It was not a case ' of helping recruiting, seeking a token representative or anything else. We simply feel that minority members of our program have the right to spirit representation and we asked that the situation be reviewed and, if possible, rectified," the statement read. Devaney said the addition, rather than substitution of the new girl for another, made the situation more acceptable. "I can see how those cheerleaders feel the change might not be the way to go about it," Devaney said, but this represents the first move in revision of the selection process. Devaney said he has asked Murphy to survey other Big Eight schools selection process in search of a better method. . The present selection board, composed of Murphy, a band member, representatives from Corncobs and Tassels and a senior, non-returning woman on the Yell Squad, is not diversified enough, Devaney said. He has no specific recommendations about to membership of the board, but since the Athletic Department sponsors the Ydl Squad, Devaney said the department . should be represented. ) ; ul don't want to be the one," Devaney said, suggesting that someone from sports information might serve in the selection "process. Devaney said the current process has not proved itself 100 percent, because the . : department ; still , receives criticism about .the squad. ' . -: .