Show Storm clouds build over budget battleground Utah camps earn ps contend for education cash cashMark Mark Hewitt Associate Editor E EDUCATIONAL spending in Utah has been thick with controversy from the word go What began four months ago with unprecedented unprecedented unprecedented dented demonstrations by teachers around the state and evolved into demonstrated dis displays ys of co concern 1 em by students stu students students stu- stu dents and the community is at last coming to political realization All camps are mobilizing for a blazing state battle for control of budgeted education money which will climax in a legislative vote later this month Lynn an Business Systems assistant professor and a central figure in faculty preparation for the coming vote says that there are schools much like in the same boat There are no specific outside sources of funding he said Without such sources of funding schools must rely al almost almost almost al- al most exclusively upon state government support to bear the states state's educational bur bur- den In order to encourage Utah politicians to accept this responsibility says that educators need a unified effort by all higher education institutions He would like to see continued support by students through demonstrations like the one t v vr vt r t y L P b Wk r s 1 i 6 s v Y 1 v y 0 a. a L LI r r w r o j M jy I I t j 3 ii Y k e s E i Y w M K d dl r l- l 3 f 4 The Utah State Capitol Building will be the location of the contenders for state monies are the Department the final vote on the education budget issue Among of Highways and the Department of Public Welfare at in early October at which college students faculty faculty faculty ty and state politicians gathered to exchange fire over education issues Curtis president president president dent of the Faculty Senate said that teachers' teachers salaries are not the only source of financial need in education Among the bones of contention with educators is the inability to acquire desperately needed equipment equipment equipment equip equip- ment to match the needs of Utah's rapidly expanding student student student stu stu- stu- stu dent population and the class sizes that have accompanied this expansion While teachers assert their hands are tied by lack of funds some groups inducting including including induct induct- ing the Utah Taxpayers Taxpayer's Association Association As As- UTA demand that teachers be realistic about the size of their slice of state pie Jack Olsen president of the Utah Taxpayers Taxpayer's Association Association Association tion UTA said that in the upcoming legislative vote politicians must remember that Utah cannot afford to put all of its limited eggs in one ba basket 1 et He says that the state devoted 40 of its budget to education in 1987 and that figure has risen since then He says that Utah has many needs besides education Education in Utah will compete with state departments of Highways Public Welfare and Hospital Health programs for funds In past legislation Utah politicians have allocated a 35 increase over the last 4 years for salaries adding an extra 5 last year to accommodate accommodate accommodate inflation See budget on page 2 |