UH budget items clearly push fund-raising

By Beverly Creamer
Advertiser Education Writer

The University of Hawai'i got $45 million from the Legislature this year to improve its rundown infrastructure, but the new budget document also sends a clear message to UH President Evan Dobelle: Hawai'i's political leaders expect him to use a shinier, more saleable product to pull in big outside money.

UH President Evan Dobelle said officials are "betting on me" to draw money. Advertiser library photo

While the $35 million to tackle repairs deferred for years was considerably less than the $53 million the university had wanted, the budget includes an additional $10 million for new repairs systemwide.

Although the final budget was still being worked on last night, there is also authorization for $30 million in bond sales to replace boarded-up Frear dorm.

In the high-stakes world of luring outside money, this is all clearly seed money designed to help Dobelle deliver on promises he's made to generate a substantial new financial base for the university.

"Now that they have the ability to control their own tuition and other income (under powers of autonomy granted in 2000)," Sakamoto said, "much of the ball is in their court as to what they do with the money we are able to send their way."

None of that has been lost on Dobelle.

"I think they're saying, 'Let him prove himself, and we don't want to be looked at as standing in the way,' " he said. "They're betting on me, and I'm grateful for that opportunity ... I'm grateful for the green light."

Dobelle said the $5 million given as an add-on to the operating budget represents a commitment to growth and new ideas. Some of that will help develop information technology programs that are a popular major on all campuses. And Dobelle sees the bond authorization for a new dorm underlining his commitment to a residential campus.

While UH took the same 2 percent across-the-board hit as other state agencies, Dobelle said it was a welcome departure from the past, when the university was hit harder than others.

"We can deal with it," he said.

UH Chief Financial Officer J.R.W. "Wick" Sloane said the budget should allow classes to be maintained at current levels.

"We don't anticipate cutting classes," he said. "It will be a lot of squeezing, but I don't think any serious bleeding."

In uncertain economic times, Sloane said, "the Legislature did as well as it possibly could for education ... and has been as good as they possibly could be to the university.

"We have nothing but gratitude," he said. "I wish there were more money in the public coffers, but there's not."

While the lion's share was aimed at long-deferred repairs and maintenance, the university also got money to polish some of the jewels in its crown — especially in the areas of astronomy and marine biology — with the expectation that would help Dobelle's fund-raising, too.

These include:

• $8.6 million to buy land and build an Institute for Astronomy Advanced Technology Research Center in Kula, Maui.
• $11 million for a new laboratory complex on Coconut Island for the Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology.

While the budget items authorized in conference committee build on the university's strengths, they also move to meet coming needs. In particular, legislators encouraged the university to take advantage of interest in technology and film and provide $1 million to design a computer sciences, film and information technology building at Manoa.

As of late yesterday, these were some of the items on the agenda:

• $17.6 million in bond authorization for faculty housing.
• $5.5 million to purchase and renovate Paradise Park.
• $4 million for a Student Life and Events Complex at UH-Hilo, eventually to become a 7,000-seat mini-Stan Sheriff Center.
• $4.8 million to modify buildings to meet accessibility standards, and $3 million to meet fire safety codes.
• $3.4 million for other infrastructure improvements.
• $3 million to renovate Leeward Community College food services.
• $2.5 million to design a Sciences and Technology Building at UH-Hilo.
• $1.9 million to renovate the Kalaeloa Hangar and dormitory for the Commercial Aviation Program at Honolulu Community College.
• $1.75 million to renovate the old Honoka'a Hospital in North Hawai'i as a new center for outreach classes on the Big Island.
• $1.1 million to plan and design a student services and administration building for Kaua'i Community College.
• $100,000 in planning for the Cancer Research Center of Hawai'i, Phase 2 of a planned Health and Wellness Center in Kaka'ako.

Dobelle was particularly grateful that $8 million authorized last year to plan the West O'ahu campus in Kapolei was not rescinded.

"That money has been released and it's in the bank," he said.

Reach Bev Creamer at bcreamer@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8013.