UNIVERSITY REMODELING FUNDS OUT OF MEASURE

JEFFERSON CITY - Funds earmarked for the renovation of Parker Hall at Southeast Missouri State University were removed from a supplemental appropriations bill Wednesday by the House Budget Committee.

Gov. Mel Carnahan had recommended in his budget for fiscal year 1995 that $663,000 for the project be covered in a supplemental funding bill, which would provide nearly immediate funding.

But at the urging of Budget Committee Chairman Chris Kelly, D-Columbia, the panel voted Wednesday to delete that project and three other capital improvements projects around the state from the supplemental bill. Those will now be considered in the state's capital improvements budget, though funds would not become available until after July 1.

There has been speculation that the shift was brought on by Democrats in retaliation for radio advertisements run three days last week by the Missouri Republican Party. The ads, run in the districts of nine Democratic lawmakers, criticized the nine Democrats for their votes on Senate Bill 380 last year. Regarded as an education reform package, it included a large tax increase that was highlighted in the GOP ads.

Democratic leaders in the House and Senate and the governor were outraged by the ads.

Rep. Mary Kasten and Sen. Peter Kinder, both Cape Girardeau Republicans, said Wednesday they are aware of the speculation about retaliation and are concerned.

"That's a perception that some people have, but I would hope that wasn't the case," said Kasten.

"Nobody has said publicly this is retaliation for that," said Kinder. He said he understands threats were made during a meeting of the House Democratic Caucus last week about cutting funding for projects in districts of Republican legislators.

Kinder said none of the Republicans from Southeast Missouri had anything to do with the ads, which were paid for by the state GOP.

"None of us was involved with those ads," said Kinder. "I endeavored to get the ads pulled as soon as I heard about them, and here is the result."

Kasten, a member of the budget committee, said she was disappointed and surprised by the shift.

Said Kasten: "I came to the meeting this morning ready to defend that supplemental appropriation, and there was a motion made to move all capital improvements out of supplemental and into the capital budget. I was disappointed because this was a timeframe that would have been very convenient for us and most expeditious. This was a way to move on the building right away and get on with the renovation of Parker."

Kinder said he learned Tuesday night of the planned shift.

He explained that the funds would be used to convert locker room spaces in the Parker Physical Education Building into two classrooms and offices on campus.

The Social Sciences Building was scheduled to be renovated, but after investigation it was discovered that more extensive renovations than planned would have to be completed before the building could be occupied again. The building housed three academic departments, 28 faculty members, the dean's office, the College Advising Center and 10 heavily used classrooms. Those were moved to Kent Library and other campus spaces. The space in Parker is being converted to ease the space crunch.

"The project was on the fast track in the governor's proposal in the supplemental bill, and now it has been shifted to capital improvements, which will take longer," said Kinder. "I certainly hope we could find a way to get it back into the supplemental bill."

Kasten said the committee chairman said he wanted to keep all capital improvement projects in the capital budget, and as far as she knows all of the capital projects were shifted. Kasten said she wants to be sure that "all projects are treated equally and fairly" and that certain projects were not singled out as retaliation.

Even if the shift was not politically motivated, Kasten said it is a shame because the project is now off the fast track and students at Southeast will be inconvenienced longer.

"It is a very legitimate project and needs to be done quickly," said Kasten. "The prices quoted are reasonable, and we should be able to get it in the capital budget. We will work diligently to get it in the regular budget for capital improvements if that is what we have to do."