Posted on: Friday, January 10, 2003

UH submits budget anticipating faculty raise

By Gordon Y.K. Pang
Advertiser Capitol Bureau

University of Hawai'i President Evan Dobelle and the Board of Regents are taking the unusual step of submitting a budget to the state Legislature that includes nearly $29 million for faculty salary increases that have not yet been negotiated.

The university's overall general fund budget request calls for $561 million in fiscal 2003-04 and $579 million in 2004-05. The current year's budget is $462 million.

Current contracts run out at the end of June and UH officials are still in collective bargaining negotiations with the University of Hawai'i Professional Assembly.

But as pointed out by UH administrators to members of the House Committee on Higher Education yesterday, "Investment in Human Resources and a Positive Physical Environment" is listed as one of five goals identified in a recently completed strategic plan.

"Our top priority is faculty salaries," Chief Financial Officer J.R.W. "Wick" Sloane.

"Nothing like this has ever happened in the past," said Rep. K. Mark Takai, chairman of the Higher Education Committee. Till now, the university submitted its budget without any anticipated pay raises.

J.N. Musto, UHPA executive director, called the move "historic" on the part of UH administrators.

"This year, President Dobelle has embraced the concept of integrating salary into his overall financial plan and not simply dumped the salary issue to be addressed through a separate collective bargaining appropriation bill," Musto said.

Musto is not entirely satisfied. UHPA's studies estimate it would cost $40 million over two years for the salaries of UH professors to reach the 50th percentile of peers at other U.S. higher education institutions. Musto noted that Dobelle's goal is to achieve 80th percentile within the next six years.

Sloane, after the meeting, confirmed that the $29 million proposal would put salaries "near" the 50th percentile and toward the 80th percentile.

Takai said it's premature to say now, a week before the Legislature officially opens, whether lawmakers are ready to budget the money for the salaries.

"We all realize the very difficult financial situation the state is in," Takai said. But "we've got a few months to figure it out."

Advertiser staff writer Treena Shapiro contributed to this report.