Budget Priorities For 2004 Legislative Session Virginia Tech

Treatment of Statewide Issues

Tuition Authority

The Executive Budget returns the authority to establish tuition and fees rates to each institution of higher education's Board of Visitors. This recognition of the authority vested with the Boards of Visitors is critical in allowing each institution the flexibility needed to manage its resources, including tuition and fees revenues, so that the complex and differential needs of each institution can be managed appropriately. Further, the tuition language should provide institutions with the ability to use tuition and fee revenues to support the full range of institutional costs.

Faculty Salaries

SCHEV has computed that the average annual salary increase for Virginia Tech faculty would be 5.6 percent to achieve the 60th percentile by 2007-08.

Classified Salaries

Recruitment and retention of staff is essential for the success of the institution; a salary increase for classified staff in 2004 is a priority.

Base Adequacy Funding

Using the model developed by the Joint Subcommittee on Higher Education Funding Policies, SCHEV has concluded that Virginia Tech's base budget funding need is approximately $40 million.

Equipment Trust Fund

The Executive Budget restored equipment funding through the ETF to $8.031 million per year, which is essentially the same level as 2000-02.

Maintenance Reserve

Restoring the maintenance reserve program funding level to the 2000-2002 level for Virginia Tech would cost approximately $8.6 million for the biennium, beyond the amount included in the Executive Budget.

Capital Program

The Executive Budget provides support for a number of capital projects throughout higher education. The institutions are pleased with the support for capital needs and ask for the General Assembly's support for the capital budget.

Virginia Tech Institution-specific Priorities

Critical Staffing Issues for Extension and Experiment Station - $3,000,000 GF

This Critical Staffing Initiative (CSI) is a request for $3 million each year of the biennium to fund 56 Extension agent and specialist positions. These high-priority positions were identified through a strategic staffing analysis that was conducted with stakeholder input at every level of the organization and has already received the support of the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation and the Virginia Agribusiness Council.

Campus Heating System Planning and Temporary Hookups - $2,750,000 GF

Recent engineering studies concur that the campus heating system will surpass capacity and that the distribution system not be sufficient in the future. This request is a follow up to the Six-Year Plan request and includes funds to plan for an upgrade of the heat plant capacity and distribution system and to support the installation of attachment lines to the main steam system lines to support interim heating solutions.