LIHUE >> The University of Hawaii Board of Regents was expected today to approve major budget increase requests for the next two years. UH budget features
25 percent increase
By Anthony Sommer
tsommer@starbulletin.comUniversity administrators say the funding increase is needed to pay for the UH strategic plan through fiscal year 2005 unveiled last week by President Evan Dobelle.
The proposal, approved yesterday by a Board of Regents committee, would increase the operating budget of the UH system to $579 million in fiscal 2005 from $461 million in fiscal 2003, a 25 percent increase.
Under Gov. Ben Cayetano, UH's operating budget was cut for seven years in a row and only in the current year received a small increase.
The committee also approved a $666 million construction program, including 26 new buildings on UH campuses, also part of Dobelle's new strategic plan. Administrators said $656 million would come from the sale of bonds, but they gave no figures on how much taxpayers would have to pay annually to retire the new debt.
Dobelle said yesterday he has not had a chance to discuss the plan with Gov.-elect Linda Lingle, who has been out of state.
Regent Ah Quan McElrath said it appears the new administration intends to place its emphasis on education through the 12th grade. She was not optimistic of funding increases on the level Dobelle is requesting.
She predicted the university would have to cut costs by hiring more temporary employees, contractors and consultants who would not receive fringe benefits from the state.
And she predicted a greater proportion of degree tracks will be aimed at gaining career skills rather than a liberal arts education.
Everett Dowling, who chairs the Budget and Long-Range Planning Committee, said the figures his panel approved represent a "wish list."
"This is a target," he said. "We still have to go to the governor and the Legislature."
University of Hawaii
