Slimmed down university system budget hits $1 billion

Friday, June 23, 2000 | 11:27 a.m.

ELKO -- A proposed budget of $1 billion for the University and Community College System of Nevada, a 12.6 percent spending increase, was outlined today for the Board of Regents.

The new spending plan has been slimmed down from an initial proposal with a 28 percent increase that drew the ire of Gov. Kenny Guinn, who foresees troubles for the upcoming state budget.

The two-year budget suggests new funding of $5.2 million for starting the Nevada State College in Henderson, $1.8 million for a dental school at UNLV, $2.8 million for starting a school of pharmacy at the University of Nevada, Reno, and $600,000 for upper division courses at the Great Basin College in Elko.

The proposed budget, prepared by the office of the former Interim Chancellor Tom Anderes, does not include pay raises for faculty and one-shot items, such as equipment.

The present base for 1999-2001 is $919.2 million. The new spending program envisions a 15.5 percent increase in student enrollment in the system during the 2001-2003 fiscal years. That, plus adopting a new formula for support of the system to eliminate the inequities between schools, will cost an estimated $56.7 million.

In addition the system wants $14 million to help support such programs as the law school at UNLV, the medical school and computing services.

Approval of the budget will come at the August meeting of the regents.

When the university initially suggested a 28 percent increase, Guinn objected, saying other state agencies are being held to their present spending programs.

Guinn and acting Interim Chancellor Jane Nichols met several times and as a result, the proposed increase came in at 12.6 percent.

The $1 billion would come from state money, student fees, federal funds and grants.

The regents also received a proposed $302.8 million building program for the system for the next two years. Of that total, $216.4 million would come from the state.