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Show OmomcIe WcdNEsdAy, jANWRy Paqc E'ict 20, 19M CSI: LEGISLATURE States facing feast or famine in higher education budgets Feast or famine is the theme for education funding across the nation. And while Utah is taking table scraps and others are downright emaciated, states like California and Oklahoma are gunning for obesity. California Gov. George Deukmejian has called his state a "superpower of prosperity." His 1988 budget proposes increasing aid to state schools by $977 million to a total of $13.5 billion a 7.8 percent hike that critics still say is not enough. Meanwhile, a state income tax increase has Oklahoma Gov. Henry Bellmon infusing an extra $100 million for education into his proposed $2.37 billion budget. The state of Maryland is expecting a $ 130 million budget surplus, and Gov. William D. Schaefer wants to spend $50 million of it upgrading higher education. And while states like Tennessee and Mississippi are raising teachers' salaries, the picture is not as rosy elsewhere. At least four states are facing lean budgets: Illinois, Utah, Washington and Wyoming. Five other states are scavenging from their budgetary dumpsters. Wyoming's problems started where the energy industry stopped. Sagging revenues from the state's main industry have made a cigarette tax increase a distinct possibility. In Illinois, Gov. James Thompson is pushing for a tax increase. He canceled his "State of the State" speech to dramatize that he means business. However, Illinois as legislators are expected to rebuff his bid for a tax increase they did last year. Washington has a $28 million budget surplus, but Gov. Booth Gardner is proposing supplemental spending of $90 million. This would cut 1 percent from the state's budget across the board, including the education budget. Tough times also face Arizona, Iowa, Kentucky and West Virginia, states which are much worse off. But nowhere are the nrohlems as severe as Louisiana. The oil industry slump has kept Louisiana's unemployment rates high for most of the past year. The state faces a projected deficit of $380 million in its $5.9 billion a $400 million deficit budget, this all added onto fiscal accumulated from the two prior years. Other states requesting large increases in their education budgets include: Alabama (a 53 percent increase), Georgia (31.2 percent), Connecticut (23 percent) and Florida (a 19.9 percent increase). Steven D. Gold, director of fiscal studies for the National Conference of State Legislatures, said, "A state would be to be very cautious because the outlook is so bleak. States are not prepared to weather an economic downturn. They don't have the reserves for a rainy day." well-advis- ed Compiled from the Associated Press and the Chronicle of Higher Education. r ' budget from page four Right now, the Legislature must balance the needs of its large school-ag- e population its of the economy. sagging reality against is not Utah's economy only sluggish, but has been influenced by the nation's slow economy. The situation for surrounding states mirrors that of Utah. Arizonans are waiting to see if Gov. Evan Expose yourself to music so revolutionary it was held captive by the Russians. When Samuel Barber's Adagio for Strings was premiered in Kiev in 1945, a mesmerized Russian audience refused to leave the concert hall until it was . performed again. Later, it was played over American airwaves to mourn the death of Franklin Roosevelt. On January 23, the Utah Symphony Chamber Orchestra brings this magnificent piece to life, along with other stirring classics written for chamber Also featured is Josef Suk's Serenade for Strings in Major. Suk composed this scintillating serenade at the tender age of 18, while still a student of an even more famous Czech composer, Antonin Dvorak. And finally, enjoy, Sir Roger de Coverly by British composer Frank Bridge, a dance fantasy based on an ancient English country tune of the same name. Mecham is recalled. The governor, according to the Chronicle of Higher Education, opposes the use of state-issubonds to finance building projects. Higher education officials are requesting a 14.8 percent increase this year. Colorado is looking for a 14.3 percent ed increase for public schools. Colorado's economy has been stagnant, like Utah's, for several years. Gov. Roy Romer, however, has endorsed a plan to raise appropriations over the next three years. Nevada's Legislature does not meet this year, but its higher education officials say reliance on the gambling industry is not enough to fund education. Nevada traditionally has not levied taxes on personal income. Idaho's higher education officials have asked for a 10.3 percent increase, but the state's education budget is as tight as Utah's. Wyoming has requested the smallest increase, 0.5 percent over the next two years. STOP THE REPRESSION! Join us in a campus Demonstration E-jl- at j ' orchestra. Experience Haydn's showpiece for cello and orchestra, his Cello Concerto No. 1 in D Major, composed to celebrate the wedding of a prince and princess in 1783. Master Utah Symphony cellist J. Ryan Selberg performs as soloist. Christopher Wilkins conducts this evening of music of the masters on Satur- January 23 at 8 p.m. in Symphony Hall. Tickets are $12 for reserved seats, $8 general admission. For more information, call the box office at day, 533-640- 7. UmhSymphony Sponsored by Merrill Lynch ON THE FRONT UNE... research grantee, Dr. Knudsen studies the hearing of owls. If he can discover how it works, develops and adapts to hearing impairments, he A March of Dimes R ; To commemorate the over 6o dead and hundreds Palestinians. U To protest the Israeli "Iron Fist" policy and the detention of thousands of Palestinians To oppose the recent Israeli decision to expel nine Palestinians from their homeland D To call for a just peace based on Palestinian to n self-determinati- on Date: Wednesday, January 20th, 1988 1 1 am to 1 pm Union Patio will gain insight into human hearing and deafness. Such basic knowledge may one day help bring sound to babies who are born deaf. Your March of Dimes works to create a world without birth defects. of wounded ed by the friends of Palestine and the General Union of Palestine Students. The Daily Utah Chronicle : FREE KODAY loud cry FLING wBIno! |
