Legislative update: a briefing for faculty and staff of the University System of Georgia, No. 7 (Feb. 24, 2003)

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
A Briefing for Faculty & Staff of the University System of Georgia
"Creating a More Educated Georgia"

No. 7, Feb. 24, 2003

Halfway Through the Session, Budget Talks Abound

N earing the half- ternal Activities and way point of the Facilities Thomas E. 2003 legislative Daniel and Budget

other committees, either to clarify budget questions or to moni-

session, committees Director Usha

tor discussions and

and subcommittees of Ramachandran repre- proposed legislation of

the House and Senate sented the University interest to the System.

are working furiously beneath the gold dome to resolve budget issues.

System before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Higher Education.

On Friday, Daniel also accompanied Rep. Louise McBee, chair of the House Higher Edu-

Last Wednesday,

Throughout the

cation Committee, as

Chancellor Thomas C. week, Daniel,

she led a group of

Meredith addressed

Ramachandran and

House members on a

the Senate Appropria- several other members tour of the University

tions Subcommittee on of the Board of Re-

of Georgia's bio-

Higher Education con- gents' staff -- including containment facility,

cerning the University Vice Chancellor for

expected to be the

System of Georgia's

Fiscal Affairs William region's premier bio-

budget request for Fis- Bowes and Jim

containment facility

cal Year 2004. Mean- Flowers, special

upon its completion.

while, across the street assistant to the chief Gov. Sonny Perdue

in the Legislative Of- information officer -- had recommended $15

fice Building, Senior attended numerous

Vice Chancellor for Ex- meetings of these and See "Budget Talks," Page 2 ...

Did You Know ...?

Y ou can quickly get up to speed on the major issues before the General Assembly on any given day via a new feature available on the University System of Georgia's website (www.usg.edu).
Jim Flowers, special assistant to the Board of Regents'

chief information officer, has created a "Legislative Affairs" site that contains web links to the latest newspaper articles on session news as well as issues of Legislative Update.
Powered by the e-newsletter CapitolImpact.com, the site also allows

browsers to track specific bills and look up the names, home districts and committee assignments of legislators.
The Legislative Affairs site is accessed by clicking on "Publications" on the USG home page and then clicking on "General Assembly."

Chancellor Makes Pitch for GALILEO Continued Funding
C hancellor Thomas C. Meredith continued to press legislators for the funding critical to the operation of the University System of Georgia last week. He answered questions about the Board of Regents' formula funding, major capital outlay priorities and special funding initiatives, and detailed the implications of cutting funds for the System's technology projects.
During a hearing on the Fiscal Year 2004 Budget conducted by the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Higher Education on Wednesday, legislators agreed with Meredith about the need to preserve funding for existing USG programs that traditionally have been supported by Lottery money.
A recommendation to limit Lottery funds
See "GALILEO," Page 2 ...

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE -- February 24, 2003, Issue No. 7

GALILEO
Continued from Page 1...
in the future to the state's HOPE Scholarship and pre-kindergarten programs, would severely curtail such statewide public services as GALILEO, the University System's online library system, Meredith explained. Without state money for GALILEO, the regents would have to redirect existing operational dollars to continue providing this award-winning service to all Georgians, he said.
The chancellor noted that the Montana Libraries recently rated GALILEO as the best digital library in the country. "We have built something that is the envy of other states, something that they haven't been able to equal," he said. "If you stop putting money into it now, it won't stay that way."

"Lottery money represents a huge chunk of our technology budget," Meredith said, reminding the legislators that the University System matches every dollar of state funds allotted to the System's Equipment, Technology and Construction Trust (ETACT) Fund with dollars from the private sector. ETACT provides critical funds for the purchase of equipment, installation of infrastructure, and renovation and construction of facilities related to technology.
The chancellor also addressed the recommendation to eliminate continuation funding for the University System's AfricanAmerican Male Initiative, a special funding initiative launched in 2002. A statewide task force and an independent research firm that have been studying the

lack of college participation by this population will present the regents with recommendations based on their findings in April. "Without funding, these recommendations cannot be acted on," Meredith said.
Members of the subcommittee expressed support for the need to continue funding this initiative.
In response to questions from the legislators about the lack of money in the FY '04 Budget for salary increases, Meredith acknowledged that University System officials are worried about the loss of competitiveness.
"We are in a national market when it comes to recruiting faculty. Georgia has been able to recruit some of the best people in the nation." Meredith said. We need to do all we

can to preserve that reputation. We are nervous about losing our position nationally."
One unit of the University System, the Georgia Public Library Service, has a special problem. Until GPLS was placed under the administration of the University System in 2000, library employees received incremental salary increases based on seniority and were paid on the same scale used for public school teachers.
"Our rural libraries have been able to stay competitive with the local schools," State Library Director Lamar Veatch told the subcommittee. "But if salaries are no longer tied to teacher pay scales, there is concern they won't be able to compete."

"GALILEO is one of the best things you've ever done as far as providing access to knowledge," Subcommittee Chair Chuck Clay told Meredith in agreeing with others on the committee that funding somehow must be preserved to continue offering online library resources statewide.

Budget Talks
Continued from Page 1...
million in bonds in the FY '03 Amended Budget for the redevelopment of the facility, which is part of UGA's Animal Health Research Center. The House deleted the item, however, when it

passed the amended budget on Feb. 13. McBee is championing its return to the budget.
Budget discussions will continue at a fast and furious pace this week, with committees

and subcommittees taking advantage of the Legislature being in recess on Monday and Tuesday.

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