Budget is proof state, MSU able to overcome initial concerns
By KRISTIN TAYLOR
Staff Writer
At least two Murray leaders say the state budget that is now in the governor's hands is proof legislators and university officials came together to overcome the much-talked about budget concerns that arose from the governor's initial spending proposal.
All along legislators stressed that the budget process was in deed that - a process. Well, the process is winding up.
The Senate unanimously passed the budget Monday night and the House followed suit with its 98-2 vote Tuesday afternoon. Now, the spending plan requires Gov. Ernie Fletcher's signature.
State. Rep. Melvin Henley, R-Murray, said while the spending plan itself is good news, the timing of its approval is less than ideal. Law prohibits the General Assembly from meeting in regular session past April 15, but the governor has 10 days to deal with the legislators' budget.
“It's simply regrettable to me that the House leadership decided to wait to bring the budget up for a vote until it will be too late to override any gubernatorial line-item vetoes,” Henley said. “Hopefully he won't veto any line items, but if he does, there's nothing we can do about it.”
Still, Henley is pleased with the outcome for Calloway County, including Murray State University. The budget is particularly welcome, he said, in light of the controversy that surrounded MSU interim President Dr. Kern Alexander's reaction to Fletcher's proposed budget before legislators had their hands on the document. Some people - including a few regents - criticized Alexander's tone and approach while others said Alexander was simply working passionately for the university.
The budget that the House approved includes $15 million for the third and final phase of MSU's science complex. Work is just beginning on the second phase, which will house the chemistry department. The biology portion is being used.
The governor didn't include the physics phase when he proposed a more conservative fiscal plan earlier this year. But the House and later the Senate included the building in their proposasl that went to the joint committee that negotiated the budget approved Tuesday.
“Well, yeah, they got everything they asked for. If they wanted more, they'd have to ask for it,” Henley said when asked if Murray State came out good in the budget. “I think we came out pretty well, all things considered. The controversy got pretty hot there for awhile, but we overcame it.”
The other budget concern for Murray State revolved around the operating money, which the governor proposed only to slightly increase. The budget includes the originally talked about $624,900 increase in this funding in the coming year but greatly increases the second year with $3.3 million more, according to information Henley provided.
“In the second year of the biennium, we are in lots better shape than we were originally. We have a lot of people to thank for that,” Alexander said. “... We're quite happy that the Senate went along with the House on that. I hope nothing gets vetoed. There's still that final step.”
For complete story, see today's Ledger & Times
Story created Apr 12, 2006 - 12:00:05 EDT.
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