Gee Thanks Governor + House for Budget Support

HOUSE-PASSED BUDGET BOOSTS FUNDING FOR OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

     COLUMBUS -- Ohio State University President E. Gordon Gee
today (4/14) expressed appreciation to the governor and the Ohio
House of Representatives for the support of higher education
provided in the budget bill passed by the House last week.

     "We received strong support" from the governor and the
House, Gee said.  The president credited Gov. George Voinovich,
state budget director Gregory Browning, House Speaker Jo Ann
Davidson, R-Reynoldsburg; and House Finance Committee and
subcommittee officers: Reps. Thomas Johnson, R-New Concord,
Robert Corbin, R-Dayton, Ron Amstutz, R-Wooster, and Doug White,
R-Manchester, in particular for their efforts in support of
higher education.

     Gee also expressed appreciation to Rep. Bill Batchhelder, R-
Medina, and Rep. Otto Beatty, D-Columbus, for their work to
defeat an amendment that would have reduced instructional
subsidies for out-of-state and foreign graduate students.

     Under the House budget, Ohio State should get an additional
$1.8 million per year over the governor's recommendation in the
Research Challenge program.  The Columbus campus should get about
$800,000 more in the subsidy formula in fiscal 1996 and $1.1
million more in fiscal 1997.  The bill adds $100,000 more in 1996
and $150,000 more in 1997 for the regional campuses.

     The House added a combined total of $1.5 million for
the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center and
Ohio State University Extension in fiscal 1996 and $2.5
million combined in fiscal 1997.

     All of the figures represent additional funding over and
above the increases initially recommended by the governor.

     Gee said that Gov. Voinovich proposed budget increases for
higher education of 5.3 percent and 4.8 percent for the next two
years.  However, the funding formula used by the Ohio Board of
Regents to distribute the instructional subsidies reduced Ohio
State's increases to only 2.6 percent and 3.4 percent in each of
the next two years in the executive budget.  But, the dollars
added by the House move these percentages up to 2.9 percent and
3.5 percent, respectively.

     Gee added:  "Importantly, the budget bill also mandates a
comprehensive study of the Regents' instructional subsidy
distribution formula, a study which we hope will lead to an
appropriate recognition of Ohio State's unique comprehensive
teaching, research, and service mission."
                                #
Contact: Herb Asher, special assistant to the president,    
         (614) 292-0803.


[Submitted by: Von Reid-Vargas (ereid@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu)
               
Fri, 14 Apr 1995 12:25:05 -0400]
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