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Special Report
Senate calls
for $33 million education cut:
UNC System
awaits final word on budget cuts, state employees could be affected
Catherine
Quill - Senior Staff Writer
The North Carolina
SenateÕs version of the budget was approved last week, calling for
$33 million in cuts to state education funding.
Officials with
the University of North Carolina system are now waiting for the
final version to be approved, according to Robert Shaffer, associate
vice chancellor for public affairs. The North Carolina House will
soon develop its own budget, and members will meet with representatives
from the Senate to approve one budget. Officials are hoping to complete
the budget by June 30.
ÒThis whole
process really began at the beginning of the calendar year,Ó he
said.
Shaffer said
Governor Mike Easley submitted a budget to the North Carolina General
Assembly with suggestions for reducing the stateÕs deficit, including
finding certain tax loopholes, certain budget reductions and a shifting
of a variety of revenue.
ÒThe current
year spending is outrunning revenue by about $750 million to $950
million on a state budget of about $14 billion to $15 billion,Ó
said Shaffer. ÒIn late March or early April, the Senate began work
on another budget as the deficit grew larger for the fiscal year.Ó
The Joint Education
Appropriations Subcommittee then started to examine the stateÕs
education budget, the largest item included in the budget. ÒAt that
point, one possibility was, ÔletÕs trim $300 million out of the
state education budget,ÕÓ said Shaffer.
If the subcommittee
approved the idea of cutting $300 million from the stateÕs education
budget, the university system would suffer a $125 million deduction
in state funding. Appalachian State UniversityÕs share would be
about a $7 million cut or 5.6 percent of its current budget.
Officials from
the university devised a plan for handling the budget cuts while
striving to maintain the quality of education and minimizing the
effect on faculty and staff.
However, the
SenateÕs final approved budget called for a reduction of about $33
million, substantially less than the original $300 million.
Along with the
suggested budget cuts came a second suggestion of increasing tuition.
ÒThe Board of
Governors recommended an across the board increase of 4 percent,Ó
said Shaffer, who added the Senate recommended an additional 5 percent
increase.
ÒIf those tuition
increases which are included in the SenateÕs budget stay in tact,
tuition at Appalachian State University will go from $982 to $1,221
(for in-state residents),Ó he said.
Certain line
items such as travel, repair and renovations will be more limited,
but Shaffer is unsure at this time as to the extent of these
ÒThe combination
of tuition increases and a reduction in state appropriated funds
results in much less of an impact than originally anticipated,Ó
he said.
Attention is
currently being focused on employees of North Carolina. ÒI think
the biggest concern is the impact on state employees,Ó said Shaffer.
Although the
SenateÕs version of the budget calls for about a 2% increase in
salaries of state employees who earn $32,000 a year, the budget
also recommended a increase in deductibles for health care and other
costs by about 30%.
Shaffer said
the impact of this would be felt by the staff at Appalachian State
would contribute to the learning environment, such as food service
workers and housekeepers.
ÒThatÕs a genuine
concern,Ó he said.
Chancellor Frank
Borkowski said, ÒMy hope is that the house supports the SenateÕs
proposed budget. I would hope that additional resources might be
found to be directed to advancement of staff salaries. My concern
is that medical care increases and the increasing cost of living
will simply decrease purchasing power.Ó
SEANC sponsors
rally in support of state employees June 5
Kristin
Davis - Staff Writer
Members of the
State Employees Association of North Carolina (SEANC) held an awareness
and information rally on Appalachian State UniversityÕs FounderÕs
Mall Monday. State employees from Watauga, Mitchell and Avery counties
were invited to lend a voice and inform members about the recent
budget passed in the state legislatureÑa budget they are unhappy
with.
Dr. Pat Reighard,
SEANC chairperson and Associate Dean of Fine and Applied Arts at
ASU called the rally a success, with a 100-200-member turnout despite
a downpour.
On May 31, the
Senate gave approval to its $14.7 billion budget proposal. The budget
cuts benefits and fails to consider pay of state employees, according
to SEANC. The House Appropriations Committee will begin work on
it next week.
The budget allots
a $625 annual pay raise, but actually results in a loss when combined
with projected increases in healthcare costs. Employees with family
coverage will lose $400 yearly after the pay - raise, according
to SEANC. ÒItÕs getting a raise, but itÕs not getting a raise,Ó
said Steve Lusk, Second Vice President of SEANC and guest speaker.
The local rally
was inspired by the May 16 state employeeÕs legislative rally in
Raleigh. There, SEANC hosted guest speakers followed by a peaceful
walk through the state building. ÒAnywhere from 3000-6000 members
turned out,Ó said Reighard.
Member Debbie
Guy proposed the local rally, according to Reighard. ÒIt came together
with a lot of work from the officers and members.Ó
The proposed
budget calls for a 1.6 percent cost-of-living adjustment, a minimal
increase that will not keep up with inflation, according to SEANC.
Among healthcare, there is an increased deductible, annual out-of-pocket
maximum and prescription drug co-payments.
SEANC urges
all state employees and retirees to contact their local representatives
in the House immediately regarding the budget. SEANC calls for a
pay raise that will keep pace with inflation and that will not be
erased by increased healthcare costs.
SEANC, officially
founded in 1947, ensures that state salaries remain competitive
and that working conditions remain the highest quality in order
for North Carolina to attract and retain the best employees. The
mission statement reads, ÒSEANC is committed to protecting and enhancing
the rights and benefits of current, retired and future state employees.Ó
Patrol Officer
Jason Church is a Patrol Officer for Appalachian State University
Police but this falls short of telling exactly what his average
day is like.
An afternoon
with Jason Church, ASU Bike Police Officer
Craig
Cox - Staff Writer
Patrol Officer
Jason Church quite possibly has one the most interesting jobs on
campus. He is a Patrol Officer for Appalachian State University
Police but this falls short of telling exactly what his average
day is like.
Church is part
of a growing trend within police departments around the country.
This trend has an increased presence on the streets and sidewalks
with the use of bicycles.
ASU police currently
have four bicycle officers, including Church, Darren Tolbert, TR
Black, and John Newsome with three new bike officers set to join
the department in the fall.
ASU Police is
coming up on their third year of bicycle patrolling.
Jason Church
is a 27 year old graduate of Appalachian State, and original member
of the bike patrol. Church explains that the primary duty of a bike
officer is to provide a presence in places and situations that are
inaccessible by traditional police methods.
ÒOne great use
of the bikes comes in the fall with the football games. We have
a tremendous amount of Alumni and Greek organizations tailgating
in the stadium before the games. We just cruise around the parking
lot providing a familiar face so that people see the department
at work,Ó said Church Òwe want to be able to talk to people and
show students that cops arenÕt bad, we are just out riding around
wanting to get to know the community better.Ó
Church emphasized
that the bicycles represent a great public relation tool.
ÒIn the summertime
especially, I have a lot of time to just ride around Sanford Mall
and hangout with the students,Ó said Church. This strategy is part
of the departments renewed emphasis on ÒCommunity Oriented Policing,Ó
said Church. Recognizing the communityÕs needs and addressing them
in a positive way is part of the bicycle policeÕs responsibility,
indicated Church.
In ChurchÕs
pursuits as a bike officer he rides a Trek mountain bike. The black
police edition bicycle is equipped with a front shock, rear storage
bag, and tough mountain bike tires. The day I rode with Church the
rain came down heavily. In total we rode several miles and Church
was indifferent to the bad conditions.
ÒI rode every
month this year, in February it got up to 60 degrees for several
days,Ó said Church, Òwe ride in a variety of conditions so that
we are out riding as much as possible.Ó
When the weather
gets really rough Church retreats to his sport-utility police vehicle
equipped with a bike rack in the rear. Church estimates that he
rides somewhere between 60-80 miles a week in his 5 days of patrolling.
ÒBefore we thought
that total miles ridden per week was a good indication of our coverage
of the campus. I was riding over 100 miles a week, and basically
wearing myself out week in and week out,Ó said Church. Last year,
a car backing out of a parking spot in the stadium lot hit Church.
ÒThe incident was minor, but points to the bigger issue of visibility
facing cyclists,Ó said Church.
ÒBeing on the
bikes the way we are, we see the issues students face in a different
light,Ó said Church. ÒOne of the most exciting things to happen
to me while on patrol was my first arrest on the bike. To have a
successful arrest there must be cooperation between bike officers
and vehicle officer,Ó said Church.
Church throughout
the afternoon expressed his optimism about the upcoming year. ÒIÕm
excited about this next year, with new officers coming in the fall.
We are going to increase our community policing by increasing communication
with, RDÕs, RAÕs, and students,Ó said Church. According to Church,
ÒStudents can look forward to our increased presence in the fall,
we are going to have two bike cops on every shift.Ó
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