Final budget bill includes pay raise

Fiscal ’04 budget heads to governor for approval

KU and other state employees will receive an average 1.5 percent merit pay increase as part of the fiscal year 2004 budget bill completed by the Legislature May 7. When Gov. Kathleen Sebelius receives the legislation, she will have 10 days to act on it.

The budget bill stems further reductions in state spending for KU, leaving the budget at roughly the FY 2003 level, including the allotment reductions imposed last summer and fall. The measure also protects $700,000 previously allocated to the KU Medical Center for children’s biomedical research at the new Hoglund Brain Imaging Center.

KU and other universities will realize one-time savings to help address increases in employer fixed costs such as health insurance. This will be realized through reallocation of pension-plan funds provided through a special bonding authority.

The university avoided an approximate $3.1 million cut designed to eliminate funding for the KU School of Social Welfare when the governor vetoed an initial amendment advanced by State Sen. Susan Wagle, R-Wichita, aimed at a KU human sexuality course. A new compromise amendment contained in the final budget bill requires Kansas Board of Regents universities to develop policies on sexually explicit materials in the classroom, on teaching about pedophilia and on sexual harassment in the classroom. However, officials said the amendment recognizes that decisions about curriculum should be made by the universities and the Board of Regents, not the Legislature. The policies must be in place by Jan. 12, 2004.

More information about the new budget will be available later.