Could Unionize If Pay Is
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4:.......----A SMS U fligher education devoured in budget cuts Swallowing up funding ~onclusion at town meeting showed proposed Judget cuts could have detrimental effects anyone knows yet what that really back into education. means." The sales tax was another 1muanve Eck agreed that pirhanas were eat- discussed at the meeting. Swanson ing away Montana's economic future. said she was putting her votes towards Piranhas are feeding on higher edu "The university system is the key to that form of tax reform. tion. At least that was the perception the economy in Montana," Eck said. "l would very much like to see a a recent town meeting held with "If we cut the education system, there sales tax go on the ballot," Swanson ~atin County legislators. is really no hope for economic growth said. "I think that's what both cam I Sen. Don Bianchi, D-Belgrade, Sen. in Montana." paignsforthegubematorial raceprom orothy Eck, D-Bozeman, Rep. Norm Eck said education was getting ised and I thirik that is what the people (allin, R-Bozeman,Rep. Joe Barnett, slashed in place of pushed government ofMontana want a chance to vote on." -Belgrade, and Rep. Emily Swanson, cuts. Swanson stressed the importance of -Bozeman, discussed legislative is- "Let's face it, a lot of legislators thorough tax reform for Montana in es, including higher education and there feel the reason they are there is coordination with the four percent sales e sales tax, with members of the becausereople want government cut," tax proposal. Reforms include prop :izeman community Thursday at Eck said. "I doubt if we have ever cut erty taxes and taxes for the middle ontana State. SIO million out of government. class. "The train was coming down the When they say 'Let's cut govern- "A fair numberofthe people in the ick, and personally, I couldn't find a ment,' what they are really saying is legislature would like to see a sales tax y to stop it," Bianchi said as amem lets cut education. And that's what go on the ballot that includes very r of the higher education subcom they are doing," Eck added. serious tax reform," Swanson said. ittee which is responsible for making Bianchi said that the reason admin- ~is ions on the university systemdur istrators and state employees may be Examples of bills currently g the legislative session. keeping their jobs in the fu ture is be "It was like a bunch of piranhas cause students will be paying more for in the legislature eding on the S24 million," Bianchi tuition. 'd. "The students are going to be pay Several other proposals are currently ·'Tue higher education subcommit ing a lot more and not be getting any before the legislature. The following : has cut out of the entire higher thing forwhat theyarepaying," Bianchi lists examples of legislative action so cation's budget S24 million and said. far. When a bill is listed as being .7 mil. lion of that is from the six Eck did cite a positive side to the passed, it means the bill has been ap t.s of the university system and about funding situation. She said that if a proved by either the House or the Sen- Sen. Don Biarchi, D-Belgl'C:¥:le, answers legislative questons at a recent town 5 million of that is from MSU spe sales tax is passed, there is a possibility ~fically," Bianchi said. "I don 't think that some of the money will be put Town meeting continued on page 2 meetirv;i at MSU. Bianchi said higher education a.rts were like piranhas feeding. -'awmakers return to problems MSU professional e01ployees HELENA (AP) - The 1993 Legislature re come tax system and abolish all local property rned Monday with the budget at center stage. taxesforschoolstogivesalestaxrevenuedirectly Lawmakers return to the Capitol after their to districts. could unionize if pay is cut m-day mid-ses.5ion ~They 're f.ocing major The final sales tax bill fashioned by the corn requires professional employees to take an automatic lcisioiisonhowtoholdstategovemmentspend minee should be in the House by mid-March. Christine Syme salary <.:ut of up to four percent in fiscal year 1995. latits ixesentleveland raise$99 million in new Ooce passed by the Legislature, the ~ is Exponent st.a.ff writer The regent's position paper stated, "Administrative to keep the budget 00.lance.d expected to be put on a June ballot for voters to and professional salaries in the university system The goal of allowing state agencies 00 ma-e judge. Montana State Professional Employees Personal generally are higher than salaries for comparable !"' the $1.837 billion in state mooey they have Ifapproved then, sales tax collections would Advisory Council (PEPAC) moved one step closer positions in the rest of Montana state government ~will mean government has todowithoutSI ()') start April 1, 1994. to unionization to head off possible cuts in salary and (where such comparable positions exist). This reduc lllion. That's the amount of money the smte Meanwhile, the House Taxation Committee jobs by the legislature. tion should narrow the gap." ICds to maintain existing irograms, taking into will start work on an alternative tax plan that Possible unionization was one of five points rec Professional employees constitute about 200 IXltlllt inflation and rising demand for St7Vices. would use increases in existing taxes to take ommended by members at a recent meeting held to people in Montana's university system. This diverse But even holding the line on spending and effect if voters reject the sales tax. distribute information on recommendations by the group of employees includes athletic coaches, deans iling S99 million in new taxes won't era;e the The House A~ Comminee will Board of Regents to reclassify professional employ and directors of non-academic programs. led deficit of $215 million. startreviewing the ~-Oown budget approved ees at Montana State. "Contract professionals are kind of the mugwumps TheRa:icotadministration believes the budget by sul:x;ommiuees during the first half of the As part of their 21-point plan to streamline the in the group," said MSU President Mike Malone. be kept in the black by booowing seve:al session. university system, regents have listed two options "You're halfway between faculty on one side and · dollars from vaiousgovemment~ts. But mere money may still havetobecutfrom directly affecting PEPAC members. One option classified on the other. We've got a pretty good Most of the attention in this first week of the the spending plan since the initial wm came up would classify all professional, non-administrative, contingent of you (PEPAC) here, about 117 just on t(lld half will be focused on the Senate Taxation aboutS20 million above the$1.837 billion goo!. non-policy making employees on board of regent> the campus and that's happened over the years for a 8mmineewherememberswill wmoncornbin Education-schools and the university sys contracts in accordance with the state pay plan. variety of reasons. The most obvious is that classi a pair of sales tax bills. tern-haveabrorbed about 75 pe"lt:Clltof the loss, MSU professional employees are not directly cov fied ranks often don't have the kind of specialties that One of the measures is OOcked by Gov. Marc and rome Democrats have warned they won't ered in salary negotiations by either the collective these kind of tasks call for," Malone said. ~icot; the other is supJDted by the Montana suppoolegislation that hits one pan of the budget bargaining of classified state employees or tenured Malone made it clear to the group where the iationofCoonties. Bolh proposea4 pe"lt:Cllt so hard faculty ranks. regents options came from. ineral sales tax ~le of raising about S313 The budget must be completed and sent to the "We're not recognized as classified or faculty. "Those recommendations did not come from Mon a year, but the way that money is spent Senate by March 25. The House' salternative tax That puts us in a difficult position. When other tana State; we did not recommend either ot those two pockage must be given to the Senate by March groups get funding for salary increases, we are often options," Malone said. '1lieregents basically adopted The bulk of collections from Racicot's tax 30. left out," said Diane Ellis, head of MSU's PEPAC these as options. They did not endorse some over be used for reducing property and income The Legislature's 90-day session is sched group. The other prqx>sal would change the in- uled to adjourn April 23. The other option being discussed by the regents Unionization continued on page 9 SNEWS 2 • Tuesday, March 2, 1993 • ASMSU Exponent Students to rally Friday Duel . · · j Jody Holzworth Exponent editor A student rally will beheld in Helena on Friday as a chance for students to voice their concerns on higher education budget cuts. The rally, organized by ASMSU, includes students from the other five four-year universities in Montana. The rally will provide a chance for students of Montana universities to oppose the proposed $22.7 million in cuts to the system. "The rally provides a chance for students to control their future," said ASMSU President Jodie Farmer. "Not acting today to control the future will jeopardize tomorrow." According to Farmer, 1,000 students are needed for the rally LO make an impression on legislators. Since there are over 35,000 students in the university system, Farmer said, it should be no problem for that many students to show up. "lf everyone expects someone else to use their voice, then no voice will be heard at all," Farmer said.