Governmental Relations

Given the indisputable positive impact of higher education on the long-term economic prosperity and well-being of the State of Missouri, Missouri State University respectfully requests that public higher education operating budgets be funded to the fullest extent possible.

Missouri State is aware that the Coordinating Board for Higher Education (CBHE) submitted a flat state appropriations request for Fiscal Year 2013; for Missouri State, that means $79,342,892. Missouri State University requests that state appropriations be held to the highest possible level and that state leaders permit public four-year universities to implement reasonable tuition increases.

Missouri State University respectfully requests that, if and when funding becomes available, consideration be given to funding significant needs at the University. This funding falls into two categories: 1) inflationary funding, and 2) maintenance and repair.

Details on each of these two priority areas follows:

• $2,856,344 – Inflationary Funding – this amount will allow Missouri State to address inflationary costs, estimated to be at 3.6 percent for 2011. This request is to maintain the University’s competitiveness in programs, as well as in students, faculty and staff.

• $7,096,417 – Maintenance and Repair Funding – the University’s backlog of maintenance and repairs continues to grow faster than the available resources. At the end of Fiscal Year 2011, the backlog stood as nearly $91 million. The 1.5 percent used for this request was recommended by the Missouri Department of Higher Education.

For capital funding, Missouri State University respectfully requests the release of funds approved for the Lewis and Clark Discovery Initiative. In addition, the University supports establishing a regular, sustained approach to funding capital needs of higher education institutions.

The completion of Phase I of the Facilities Reutilization Plan (FREUP) remains the University’s highest capital priority. These projects, totaling approximately $20 million, were part of the Lewis and Clark Discovery Initiative. Missouri State respectfully requests that this funding be released so these important renovation projects on the three campuses can be completed. Missouri State also believes there is value in establishing an effective ongoing process for meeting the capital needs of higher education.

Missouri State University respectfully requests that the language in HB 137 during the 2011 session be amended to allow the University to lease its property without prior approval by the Missouri General Assembly.

This bill, if not corrected, will be very damaging to Missouri State and to the economic development of the Springfield community. It would especially impact leases at the Roy Blunt Jordan Valley Innovation Center (JVIC), and the new Robert W. Plaster Center for Free Enterprise and Business Development. While we agree advance approval of sale of property by the General Assembly makes sense; advance approval of leases does not.

Missouri State University respectfully requests approval to grant a temporary easement for the City of Springfield to improve the intersection of National Avenue and Monroe St.

This easement will allow the City to redesign the intersection for better, more efficient traffic flow and improved pedestrian safety. Temporary easements are required during the construction period.