THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, December 16, 1995 TAG: 9512160256
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PHILIP WALZER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 60 lines
Til Hazel, the Republican businessman from Northern Virginia who has spearheaded a statewide crusade to boost higher education funding, on Friday lashed out at Gov. George F. Allen's 1996-98 college budget plan as ``very inadequate.''
``I don't see the kind of hard support for higher education the situation requires,'' Hazel said in a phone interview. ``I see an effort to patch together a program that superficially looks like additional support, but I think when it all washes out, it will be very inadequate.''
The remarks from Hazel, whose has been credited for helping to build public and political support for funding increases for colleges, indicate that Allen's plan could face a rough reception in the upcoming General Assembly session.
In a briefing Thursday with college presidents, Allen officials outlined their plan, which calls for a $240 million increase over the next two years. The officials and the college presidents have refused to discuss the details until Monday, when Allen officially releases the budget plan.
But Hazel said that, from what he's seen, some of the increase includes bond funds for construction and some consists of savings under the ``restructuring'' - or streamlining - effort that the colleges had already expected to use for other purposes. He said he believed the amount of the increase that would actually go for students was closer to $100 million.
Hazel also criticized the proposal for withholding a pay raise for faculty members until 1997. Under the plan, professors would get no raise in 1996 and an average 5 percent increase in the following year.
``That's a critical item,'' said Hazel, who warned that the plan could drive disenchanted professors to find new jobs. ``They need substantial money now, not a further IOU from the state.''
Hazel's Virginia Business Higher Education Council, a group of business leaders from across the state, has argued that deep cuts in college aid in the early '90s have hurt the state's economic development efforts. The council has lobbied for a $200 million increase in each of the next two years.
Hazel's opposition was seen as a key factor in the legislature's defeat of Allen's plan earlier this year to cut $59 million in college aid for 1995-96.
``I do not see that higher education has been added as a priority'' in the governor's budget proposal for 1996-98, Hazel said. ``I see higher education being addressed as a political problem.''
Hazel asked candidates for the General Assembly this fall to pledge to support an unspecified increase in support for colleges. About two-thirds of those who were elected signed on, he said last month.
Hazel predicted a vigorous attempt to up the ante for colleges when legislators reconvene next month.
``There is likely to be a much more questioning attitude about the budget,'' Hazel said. ``And I'm talking about both sides of the aisle. I know several Republican legislators who are quite committed to significant increases in higher education.'' by CNB