Budget finalized for state
By Amy Geiszler-Jones
The Legislature finalized the state’s budget before adjourning for the year April 29.
Here’s a summary of what WSU and its employees ended up with for fiscal year 2001:
- The 1 percent that was taken back this
year from state general funding was restored. State general funding
will increase for salary enhancements.
- There was no increase in OOE (other operating
expenditures).
- Classified employees will receive an
approximate 2.5 percent step and longevity increase.
- Unclassified employees and faculty can
receive 2.5 percent merit increases.
- Teaching and research faculty will receive an additional 3.4 percent increase now that the Legislature has agreed to fulfill its obligation to fund the bill that reorganized the higher education system. The bill designated $8 million for faculty salary enhancements at state universities.
In other action, the Legislature repealed the bill that required dropping one of every four jobs vacated by retirement, effective now.
The state also will place a 15-month moratorium on state and local government contributions to the fund that pays benefits to the families of dead and disabled state and local government workers. That saves the state $26.4 million and local governments $6.8 million.
