HIGHLAND HEIGHTS — Northern Kentucky University President James Votruba on Wednesdayoutlined his proposed 2002-03 operating budget, which calls for $3.1 million in raises for faculty and staff.

        And that's despite a $540,000 cut in state funding.

NKU President James Votruba tells faculty, staff and students about the university's finances in a presentation Wednesday at Greaves Hall. (Patrick Reddy photo) | ZOOM |

        Dr. Votruba called the merit raises, for the final year of a three-year commitment to boost salaries to a competitive level, “the most aggressive decision” in the budget. The raises could reach up to 5 percent for staff and up to 6 percent for faculty.

        “Much of the investment that was made in the university over the last five years has strengthened our foundation” by raising salaries, adding faculty and upgrading infrastructure, Dr. Votruba told about 500 faculty, staff and students at Greaves Concert Hall. “What you're going to see in this budget is a bit of a shift to investing in our future.”

        The proposed 2002-03 budget, about $110 million depending on the Kentucky General Assembly's final budget decision, will be voted on in May by the Board of Regents. It represents a 9.8-percent overall increase over the 2001-02 budget of about $100.2 million, despite the $540,000 cut in some state funding lines.

        The budget projects that tuition and fees will bring in $7.3 million. It also takes into account a loss of $540,000 from the state.

        The Kentucky General Assembly is still in special session finalizing the state's budget for the next two fiscal years, but Mr. Votruba felt confident enough in the stability of NKU's state allocation to present his talk.

        “We're also assuming that we will not get hit for a second cut (in state funding). There's some risk in this budget. I believe (and) the administration believes that it's a manageable risk,” Dr. Votruba said.

        The NKU budget was developed under a “very uncertain climate,” he said, referring to the state's $35 billion proposed budget, which has yet to be approved.

        “As of a half an hour ago, we still don't know what our budget is going to be in Frankfort,” Dr. Votruba said. “I will tell you, at this point, I don't know anything about capital projects and neither does anyone else.”

        Unless state officials ante up new revenue, Dr. Votruba said, “there will be no capital projects. That means no Old Science (building) rehab, that means no (Regional) Special Events Center.”

        Janis Cassiere, assistant dean of arts and sciences, applauded Dr. Votruba's commitmentto provide retirement benefits to full-time, non-tenure-track faculty who have been at NKU at least three years.

        “We've been working for this for many years now,” she said. “We can finally reward these people for all their work here.”
       

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