SEMO HEAD PLEASED WITH STATE BUDGET

Southeast Missouri State University stands to receive about $44 million in state operating money for fiscal 1999.

The university also is slated to receive about $5.6 million for construction of a polytechnic building and $100,000 toward the relocation of the regional crime lab.

The Legislature this week approved a series of spending bills that make up the record $15.9 billion state budget.

The spending measures won't take effect until they are signed by the governor. The new fiscal year begins July 1.

Lawmakers appropriated $45.5 million in operating money for Southeast, up $3.6 million or 8.7 percent over a year ago.

The governor regularly holds 3 percent of budget funds in reserve.

As a result, Southeast expects to receive about $44.2 million or $1.37 million less than the total appropriation.

The appropriation is nearly $183,000 higher than Gov. Mel Carnahan's budget recommendation for the school.

"We came out a little bit ahead. We obviously are very pleased," said Dr. Dale Nitzschke, Southeast's president.

The increase above the governor's recommendation is the result of the Legislature's decision to increase funding to pay for expenses associated with the state retirement plan, Nitzschke said.

The $3.6 million increase in operating money for the school includes about $1.5 million for mission enhancements and another $1.3 million in incentive funds and money to cover added expenses from inflation, Nitzschke said.

The mission enhancements include nearly $318,000 for personnel, equipment and operations for Southeast's interactive television network to provide long-distance learning to outreach centers.

Another $112,000 is earmarked for a new social work master's degree program.

Nitzschke praised the work of area legislators who helped secure the state funds for Southeast.

"We have a good group of legislators who really value what we do," he said.