POWER PLANT UPGRADE PART OF BUDGET

JEFFERSON CITY -- Funding to renovate the power plant and an upgrade of the electrical distribution system at Southeast Missouri State University are part of the state budget proposed by Gov. Mel Carnahan.

Southeast has $5.034 million allocated for the power plant project from a $40 million allocation of riverboat gambling funds for capital improvement projects on college campuses.

"It is not a very glamorous project, but it is something we need very badly," said Marvin Proffer, a lobbyist for Southeast and former legislator.

The total operating budget proposed for Southeast is $35.977 million, an increase of $1.725 million from this fiscal year. Of that increase, $467,502 is in one-time funds that won't become part of the core budget.

Of the one-time funds, $275,170 is earmarked for academic equipment and $192,332 for the second phase of an information-technology upgrade.

Southeast's operating budget includes an increase of $725,183 for on-going maintenance and repair and a hike in the operating funds allocated to the university of $532,250.

Funding for the Bootheel Education Center in Malden is included as part of the university's core budget for 1996.

"I think we were treated very well," Proffer said.

He and Southeast's executive vice president, Ken Dobbins, spent part of Wednesday meeting with key legislators who will be involved in reviewing the governor's budget plan,