Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, March 15, 1990                   TAG: 9003152667
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B1   EDITION: EVENING 
SOURCE: DANIEL HOWES HIGHER EDUCATION WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

COLLEGE FUNDS SEEN AS GOOD CONSIDERING VA. SQUEEZE

Administrators and budget experts have spent much of this week refiguring expenses and scouring the $26.4 billion state budget approved last weekend to see just how much they will have to spend on salary increases and special programs for the next two years.

But Tech President James McComas said Wednesday that he's concerned the cuts might erode the advances in quality and stature that Virginia schools have earned in the past decade.

"I don't want to come off as a whiner, because I'm grateful for the response we've had [from the General Assembly]," he said in an interview. "But I also want the general public to know it'll be difficult for us to remain competitive with the cuts we've had to endure."

Radford President Donald Dedmon sounded a more positive note on the budget, which included a 9 percent increase in the 9,175-student school's operating budget, 32 more faculty members and the restart of more than $10 million in building projects.

"Given the circumstances in which we were working, I think we did very well," he said in an interview. He said he "can't quarrel" with the 4.2 percent salary increases granted faculty members or the 3.9 percent increase for administrators. Staff will be given 5 percent pay raises.

Radford's rosy outlook is tempered, however, by impending tuition increases, which officials say are necessary to offset the cuts ordered by Gov. Douglas Wilder. Out-of-state tuition likely will be raised $600 a year, and in-state tuition about $60 a year. The board of visitors will make the final decision in April.

Tech's budget-builders say their predicament is more complicated - and less certain.

Although Tech's operating budget for the next two years will jump to about $806 million from $794 million, officials say the projected increase will come from large, sponsored research contracts, which cannot be used to support teaching and other programs. Initially, Tech had submitted an $890 million budget to the state.

Instructional budgets will absorb most of the cuts, which budget director Kathy Johnston said will total $9.2 million - or 5 percent - in the fiscal year beginning July 1. Officials already know they will have to cut between $10.2 million and $11.1 million in the 1991-92 fiscal year.

Substantial increases in fixed costs - workers compensation payments, for example, jumped from $350,000 in 1983-84 to $1.2 million now - have chewed up the school's operating budget, she said. Tech's operating budget, not including salaries, has been funded at about the same level as in 1980.

To offset the skyrocketing costs of insurance and utilities, the General Assembly agreed to give Tech $1.1 million for "unavoidable costs."

Radford received $168,000 for the same purpose.

Tech will be allowed to hire eight new faculty members - a far cry from the 107 positions requested in the proposed budget. Current faculty members will receive 5.1 percent raises next year, and staff members will get 5 percent increases.

Money has not been earmarked in the budget's second year for faculty and staff salary increases at state colleges and universities, but officials said they are confident lawmakers will grant raises next year.

Tech also received:

Approval to begin work on the fourth phase of construction at the regional veterinary college. Officials estimate the building will cost $9 million. Last year's lottery bill included $4.1 million for the project. Lawmakers said the money could instead be borrowed from the state retirement fund.

That, and an additional $3.1 million that will be borrowed from the university when needed, will be paid back later with lottery funds.

Nearly $925,000 to begin planning a $25 million student recreation center. Gov. Wilder temporarily has put the project - and others like it across the state - on hold because they would cause student fees to increase.

Tech's hiring freeze will remain in effect until officials are finished fashioning a budget for the board of visitors to consider next month.