collegian kansas
Vol. 115 | No. 107
city commission
Economic funding discussed
state
www.kstatecollegian.com
Check out Sports, page 6 for coverage of the Wildcat’s win against Texas Tech last night.
wednesday, february 24, 2010
Facing the Future
Joe Sommers | Collegian The Manhattan City Commission met last night to vote on a special meeting item and to discuss two items during their regular work session. The commission unanimously passed the special meeting item concerning the addition of easements and right-ofways to the Downtown Redevelopment Area. The commission then turned their attention to the two items on the regular work session agenda. The first item involved recommendations made by the Economic Development Model Task Force. Task Force member Lauren Palmer explained to the commission proposed changes to the criteria the city uses to decide which new businesses receive economic development funding. The current system has three points of emphasis, including wages, return on investment and community fit. The task force recommended that benefits be added to this criteria. The new system would strongly consider the health benefits a prospective employer would provide for their workers. Other factors considered included the percentage of the health plan paid by the employer and the total percentage of salary these benefits would make up. With the arrival of the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility, the city has focused on bringing high-paying jobs into the community. The task force built the new model with an emphasis on new jobs that would pay at or above $24 an hour. While agreeing a new model was necessary, the commission directed the talk into a broader discussion of what constitutes economic development. “The number one question is what defines economic development,” said Mayor Bob Strawn. Commissioners discussed whether economic funding should be spent solely on job creation. Commissioner James Sherow viewed the public amenities as an important way to help lure high-paid workers to Manhattan. He argued that the superior economic resources of larger communities makes it necessary for the city to focus on improving quality of life to attract potential workers. Jane Gibson of the Living Wage Coalition asked the commission to pass an ordinance requiring companies applying for economic development funding to pay all employees no less than $12 an hour. Commissioners agreed that there is a need to make sure employers provide their workers with adequate wages to live on, but disagreed that an ordinance was the right option. “We don’t want to run off high-paying jobs because the company has a few low-paying jobs,” Strawn said. The commission then heard an overview of the Facilities Conservation Improvement Program, which helps communities lower their energy costs. Randy Jameson from Trane Commercial Systems presented the commissioners with an example of areas where the city could save money. He suggested the city replace old water meters, which would bring in an estimated $37,847 a year in additional revenue. Upgrades in traffic lights and city heating systems was also recommended. Strawn ended the meeting by asking his staff to research the FCIP and prospective companies to complete the work before the commission would make any commitment.
Nathaniel LaRue | collegian
K-State president Kirk Schulz listens to a question during his spring semester open forum Tuesday afternoon in Forum Hall. The discussion allowed K-State faculty members, employees and students to voice their concerns over the upcoming budget cuts.
Schulz: Budget constraints not temporary Danny Davis | Collegian President Kirk Schulz held his spring semester open forum yesterday afternoon at the K-State Student Union. The focal point of his discussion with students and faculty members was the current budget crisis. “It’s sort of like trying to hit a moving target,” Schulz said. “We’ll do the best we can, but from mid-April to late-May you will probably see a lot of activity on the budget.” Schulz completed recommendations to cut $15 million over a period of two years, and the documents can be accessed through the K-State Web site. The recommendations include the elimination of about 25 full time positions and other halftime and internship positions from programs and departments around campus, including eight full-time positions from the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics and seven from the Division of Facilities. Other suggestions include extended closing days at the Beach Museum of Art and an important reduction in funding for NISTAC, a program dedicated to supporting start-up and expansion of businesses and intellectual property. A question arose regarding the Targeted Excellence funding reduction at KState. The funding allows for programs at K-State to submit proposals of projects that they would like funded. Over the past three years, the amount of available money within Targeted Excellence has been consistently halved, and it will be further reduced this year. “There’s been a terrific return on the investment from Targeted Excellence funds,” Schulz said. “There’s no question that, generally, these monies have been beneficial to the university.” But he said it would be irresponsible for
Proposed Reduction, Two-year total savings Administration and Finance offices $540,000 Including the elimination of one full-time position in the Controller’s Office, one in the Division of Human Resources, and seven from the Division of Facilities. Vice President for Student Life $217,000 Including the elimination of one full-time position in Student Financial Assistance and one in Career & Employment Services; two part-time positions in Counseling Services and in the Office of Student Life. Office of the Provost $506,000 Including a reduction in funding for international programs and in Information Technology Services. Alumni Association $95,000 Including the elimination of a part-time position and student employment opportunities, a reduction in sponsorship for campus events, and an increase in food service fees. Details of President Schulz’s budget cuts proposal can be found on k-state.edu/budget/initiative.html the university to continue to make multiyear commitments it may not be able to uphold in the current budget climate. He said he would look at other types of funding programs to encourage inter-disciplinary activities. Savings from this program will total $6 million. When Schulz was asked about the current hiring “slush” at K-State, he said if there are significant hiring needs, departments need to make the case to the provost and administration. “It’s important for us to make sure we’re backfilling where needed,” he said. “The budget situation will be fluid at best over the next couple years.” Schulz said he does not view the changes K-State is making to cope with budget
constraints as temporary. He said he’s expecting the budget to hit a trough and flatten out, but does not expect to see a significant amount of new money for the university after the budget crisis. “We’re going to have to get comfortable with that,” Schulz said. “We need to reevaluate the core mission of K-State, a landgrant university.” He said he does not see the budget crisis as a reason for K-State to stop growing. Instead, he said he views it as an opportune time to keep planning for the future and continue pursuing dreams. One of the goals for the future of K-State is to morph into a three campus system, Schulz said. The opening of the Olathe campus will provide K-State with three different locations. Schulz said with video conferencing technology, it would be possible for one instructor to teach students at every location simultaneously. An example he gave was upper level courses needed for a business degree may be taught at K-State, but students at the Salina campus will be able to attend those classes through video. “We just don’t need to be in a situation with three different locations and three different instructors,” Schulz said. “To me, that doesn’t make sense.” Schulz will be participating in another open forum at the Salina campus on Monday, March 1 at 2 p.m. It will be streamed live in the Big 12 Room at the Union where students and faculty in Manhattan can also participate. If students hear budget stories in the news or hear budget-related talk on campus, he invites them to contact his administrative office. Every six weeks, Schulz wants to answer the questions that are asked most frequently, he said.
Mcglone/Craemer campaign not joking around Austin Enns | Collegian Benson Mcglone, junior in history and anthropology, and Brad Craemer, senior in life sciences, are seriously running for student body president and vice president. They may be dressed up as George Washington and Abraham Lincoln while blasting patriotic music, but said if they are elected they will treat the positions with all the sobriety necessary to be leaders for the student body. When asked about campaign platforms, Mcglone made one thing clear: They have campaign foundations, not platforms. “Foundations can be built upon while platforms can fall over,” he said. One of Mcglone’s main priorities as president is to bring back the Fourum an essential tool to ensure the student body is heard, he said. He said most of the students at K-State want the Fourum back, and as president he will try to work with the editor of the Collegian to restore it in some form or fashion. Parking at K-State is the next area Mcglone said could use some
Courtesy photo
Student body presidential candidate Benson Mcglone, junior in history and anthropology, poses as George Washington with vice presidential Brad Craemer, senior in life sciences, dressed as Abraham Lincoln. reform. One promise of the cam- about the practicality of this propaign is to institute airport-style posal, Mcglone pointed out that parking in the parking garage. This the parking garage already keeps means a student could park in the track of the amount of time a stuparking garage for less than thir- dent parks in the garage. ty minutes for free. When asked Lastly, Mcglone and Craemer
would like to make K-State a more prestigious university. Implementation of this idea would involve adding the word “the” in front of every sign that had K-State on it. The campaign stressed how prestigious “the K-State” sounded as opposed to just “K-State.” Despite their joking demeanor, Mcglone and Craemer have a serious message. Since neither have been involved in student government, they said they have an advantage as outsiders to the system. Their goal is to bring an energetic and enjoyable tone into student government. Mcglone has been involved in the KSU Anthropology Club and the lacrosse team. Craemer has been a Young Life leader. Both are members of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity. Mcglone and Cramer are running for student body president and vice president in a silly manner because, they said, as college students they are supposed to have fun. They are trying to stress they are a legitimate contender, and their campaign demonstrates to the student body they value their college experience.