JACKSONVILLE -- March 1, 2001 --
As of late Thursday afternoon, higher education representatives were still negotiating with Gov. Siegelman and others
regarding proration. By unanimous agreement among all public universities, the following is the position taken by higher
education in Alabama. Please let your representatives and senators know that this is also your position. You may look up
your senator and representative on the web at www.legislature.state.al.us/misc/zipsearch.html.
POSITION STATEMENT:
Proposal to Achieve Fairness During Periods of Proration
Submitted By: The Presidents and Chancellors of Alabama's Public
Universities
Principle: Proration should be applied equally to K-12 and higher
education.
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Faculty and staff at all levels, K through university, are the
single most important element of public education. Each faculty and
staff member deserves adequate compensation and fringe benefits. During
periods of economic difficulty, each deserves fair treatment and
protection. Therefore, it is the position of Alabama's University
Presidents and Chancellors that the salaries of the faculty and staff of
Alabama's public universities should be exempt, along with the salaries
of their K-12 counterparts, from the hardship of proration.
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Proration should be applied equally to K-12 and higher education.
The percentage of appropriations for K-12 from the Foundation Program
and categorical aid programs for items other than the salaries mentioned
in number one shall also be applied to higher education in determining
the dollars subject to proration in both areas. The proration
percentage shall be applied equally to both areas. Although state
appropriations for higher education are not sufficient to cover salaries in
higher education, in the interest of fairness and
compromise, higher education will accept the same percentage to be
prorated as K-12.
For example, if the salaries for K-12 mentioned above comprise 70% of
their appropriated dollars, the other 30% of their appropriated
dollars would be subject to proration. In the same manner, 30% of the
appropriation for higher education would be subject to proration. The
declared proration percentage would apply to this 30% for both K-12 and
higher education.
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Any revenue improvements for 2000-2001 over current projections
will be shared on a ration of two thirds for K-12 and one third for
higher education.
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