Budget and compensation revisited

A 4.5% "grid increase" has been requested for the FY2010 budget and it will probably be the last time a "grid increase" is used to include our step increases within the budget request. It looks like the System will not be going back to the old way of doing step increases, either, and are investigating other options. The Staff Compensation Task Force is looking into other ideas, including merit-based raises (possibly with evaluations required), using an end-of-year bonus concept, and others. They're always looking for ideas, so feel free to pass them on, if you have one! (Once one is decided upon and approved, it won't be put in place until FY2010 at the earliest we're told).

There is also a high probability that health care premiums will be going up, as early as next July 1. There's still discussion and calculations to be made to determine exactly how much it can go up; we will let you know as soon as we hear anything.

Another item the SCTF is working on is the fact that the "grid increase" request for FY2010 is 4.5%. Being that the request is based on the cost-of-living in Anchorage (which is currently already at 4.6%), the chance that the new rates almost definitely won't cover the cost-of-living increase in addition to the health care premium increase is incredibly high. The SCTF is meeting next week and hopes to get some answers and ideas out of it.

Budget Concerns and Salary Effects Part II

Look further down at the original posting regarding the proposed grid increase....

Juella's request was rejected and the administration went forward with a 4.5% grid increase.

This is a real budget bummer.

Budget Concerns and Salary Effects

The FY10 UA budget goes before the regents tomorrow. There's a 4.5% placeholder in this budget for grid increases, but Statewide has stated that we cannot continue to rely on these. It's important to note that these grid increases are not covering both the increase in cost of living and our traditional step increases.

For FY11 (July 1, 2010-June 30, 2011), the Staff Compensation Task Force is looking to develop a compensation system based on the following central values, noting that this list isn't final:

• market-based
• allows step progression
• cost neutral as much as possible
• increased performance management with an infrastructure in place to support it
• efficient to administer

Juella, our Staff Council prez. is really going to bat for staff. She has strongly suggested to the Task Force that we get a 5% increase not only because that is the amount of the Anchorage Consumer Price Index but it also shows support for staff and recognizing the economic hardships we are facing.

She has encouraged the task force to consider that salary is but one piece of the compensation package, and that they must also be aware of health-care premiums and retirement.

Juella wants to hear back from you. What's your input for the FY11 budget? What information or suggestions can you give to us to ensure a more financially secure future for yourself?

Get back with us!

UAF Funding & Governor Palin

Governor Sarah Palin has included in her recommended budget more funding for UAF! She's also included deferred maintenance for UAF (which is highly unlikely to be a part of a budget). She's designated $40 million for the UA system, including TVC. Unfortunately, she didn't provide for BIOS, though.

Chancellor Jones suggests we send the Governor a Thank You for including so much for UAF in next year's budget. Please send those Thank You notes!

Annual Budgeting & Financial Review

Chancellor Jones is attending the annual Budgeting & Financial Review meeting on Thursday, October 25, 2007. We're faced with a severe budget deficit and have lost $1.4 million the last three years from our base budget.

Even faced with this money crunch we have accomplished much this last year:

• KUAC won two emmy awards
• Recognized in the top 5 among small research universities in the nation and among the top 10 universities in atmospheric and environmental science
• Record number of degrees awarded

He believes we deserve more funding given these accomplishments and is fighting for us! We can fight, too! Check out the Hot topic for this month and send Governor Palin a postcard!

If you want, you can check out the expenditure and revenue reports and other fun financial schedules at:
http://www.alaska.edu/swbudget/budget_planning/documents/reviews/fy08/UAFFinancialReview2007.pdf/