UGA Logo UGA Office of Public Affairs top bar image UGA Home
Columns faculty staff newspaper News Service
Contact Us
Text-Only
top bar image
SEARCH
  Columns   UGA    
 
  April 17, 2006
  In this issue
  News
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Around Academe
  Giving Back
  Go Figure
  Digest
  UGA Guide
  Newsmakers
  Campus Closeup
  Administrative Changes
  Questions&Answers
  Weekly Reader
  Cybersights
  Bulletin Board
 
  Back Issues
  Publication Dates
  Contact Us

campus newS

Salary increase highlights 2006 legislative session
By Tom Jackson
tjackson@uga.edu
A 4 percent merit-based pay increase pool for University System of Georgia faculty and staff headlines action by the 2006 Georgia General Assembly that adjourned March 31. The increase, the largest since the 2002 fiscal year, is effective Jan. 1, 2007.

“While state revenues have improved, state expenses in health care and energy costs also are increasing, so the state budget remains tight,” says President Michael F. Adams. “We’re pleased with the salary increase and with the progress on capital outlay and appreciate the support of the governor and our local legislative delegation for the university’s top priorities.”

The fiscal year 2007 state budget adopted by legislators also includes $53 million for increased University System formula funding based on enrollment and other factors and $60 million for maintenance, repair and renovations at System campuses. The final figures are reductions from the $55.3 million and $68.2 million, respectively, proposed for the two areas in Gov. Sonny Perdue’s budget plan.

The funding plan provides for two so-called “minor” capital projects —that is, costing $5 million or less: UGA campus infrastructure upgrades at $4.8 million and a $5 million animal and dairy livestock facility at UGA’s Double Bridges Farm in Oglethorpe County.

Among other items in the FY ’07 budget, legislators appropriated $700,000 for maintenance and operation funds for UGA’s Agricultural Experiment Stations; $300,000 for maintenance and operation at Cooperative Extension; $500,000 to expand course offerings at UGA’s Griffin campus; and $486,000 to add six county agents to the Cooperative Extension Fruit and Vegetable Research Center.  

The General Assembly also funded the seventh item on the board of regents’ major capital outlay list in the fiscal year 2007 budget, a teaching laboratory at Georgia State University, and in the fiscal year 2006 supplemental budget they funded the top three priorities, projects at Georgia College and State University, the University of West Georgia and North Georgia College and State University.

“This action moves the proposed UGA College of Pharmacy building up to number four on next year’s list, giving it a better chance of being funded in fiscal year 2008,” says Steve W. Wrigley, the university’s senior vice president for external affairs.

Also in the FY ’06 supplemental budget is $525,000 to match federal funds to continue biorefinery research at UGA, and $300,000 for maintenance and operation of the Agricultural Experiment Stations.
 


Columns is produced by the UGA News Service, a unit of UGA Public Affairs.
286 Oconee St., Ste. 200N, Athens, GA 30602-1999
Juliett Dinkins (jdinkins@uga.edu): editor (706) 542-8017,
Janet Beckley (jbeckley@uga.edu): art director (706) 542-8170, Peter Frey (pfrey@uga.edu): photo editor (706) 542-8086,
Matthew Weeks (mweeks@uga.edu): senior reporter (706) 542-8024, Sara Freeland (freeland@uga.edu): reporter (706) 542-8077
Questions or comments should be directed to columns@uga.edu

Back Issues | Publication Dates | Subscribe to Columns | Contact Us | Text-only Version

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright 2007-2008 University of Georgia. All rights reserved
The University of Georgia • Athens, GA 30602 | UGA Directory Assistance 706/542-3000
UGA Home | UGA Today | Public Affairs Directory