"It's time for action and we are taking action," Gamble told the
standing-room only crowd in SUB Ballrooms A and B.
Gamble outlined his observations and plans in two key areas at
the session that was billed a legislative and planning and budget
update.
Gamble told the attentive audience, many listening to Gamble for
the first time since he arrived on campus in December, that the
current Montana State Legislature has authorized a four percent
salary increase for faculty and staff. However, Gamble pointed
out that the state will only pay for half of the increase, and
the university's share in the increase would be a hefty $3.7
million.
"But we will find the money," Gamble said. "We will not postpone
salary increases another year."
One of the major points of his speech was the formal unveiling of
his new planning and budgeting process.
"I prefer a bottom up, almost like a legislative, process,"
Gamble said. His process would involve a broad representation
from campus groups making basic recommendations. As described,
Gamble's process contrasts with the former "trickle down"
process.
"Not that (the former process) is wrong," Gamble said earlier
this week. "But (the university) hired me,and this is how I
prefer to do it."
Gamble told the audience that he is putting the finishing touches
on appointing representatives campus-wide to a new University
Planning, Budget and Analysis Committee, called "UPBAC," that
will begin work next week formulating the budget for 2002.
"They'll have 90 days," he said. He added that the members of the
new group would be "leaders and champions" on campus.
The new committee will focus on immediate actions and will
supplement the existing Long Range Planning Committee, now
focusing on plans 10 years out, and the Strategic Planning and
Budgeting Committee, charged with focusing on zero to five years
in the future.
Gamble said his goal is to link budgeting with planning in a
process that was ongoing, open and informed.
"The approach will be data-rich," he said.
For a detailed look at Gamble's planning and budgeting process,
go to: http://www.montana.edu/aircj/budgetoffice/complete_plan.pdf.
Despite a higher education allocation that currently is $3
million short of the governor's recommendation, once thought
inadequate, Gamble said MSU has had a few legislative victories.
Among them are long-range planning approval for maintenance work
at Linfield and Montana Halls. While the Epicenter/ Gaines Hall
joint project is clearly dead, Gamble said plans have been
approved for a renovation of Gaines Hall "that will address that
facility's most pressing needs." Also approved is a new Animal
BioScience Building that will be a companion to the new
AgBioScience Building. And, the digital conversion of Montana
Public Television is still alive.
Gamble said that so far the legislature has rectified one of the
biggest disappointments of this session -- elimination of funding
for water, sewer and garbage services. That funding has been
restored, at least for the time being.
Carol Schmidt
