Topeka — Gov. Bill Graves has a message for lawmakers wanting a $115 million bond package for research facilities at the state's three largest public universities: Get in line. Take a number.
"I don't have any problem with the enhancement once we have taken care of the business at hand, and we haven't even begun that discussion," Graves said Tuesday.
Kansas University, Kansas State University and Wichita State University want the Legislature to approve bonds to build research facilities. Last week, about 110 legislators went to Manhattan to hear about the proposal.
Under the plan, the state will pay back the bonds for the first five years, then the schools take over payments.
State leaders say the facilities are needed for Kansas to get its fair share of federal research dollars. If the measure passes, KU would receive about $65 million for a biomedical research center, Kansas State, $40 million for a food safety laboratory, and $10 million would go to Wichita State to expand aviation engineering.
But with the state facing a revenue shortfall and increases in social service spending, Graves said he wasn't ready yet to sign off on research bonds.
He said lawmakers were not even discussing another side of higher education finance funds for salary increases for instructors at regents institutions that were part of a promise made by the Legislature in 1999.
"This is an issue that deserves a lot more debate and discussion than it is getting," he said.
Graves also said Democrats have concerns about increasing the state's bonded indebtedness, while regional universities may feel slighted because they are not part of the program.
Last week, Sen. Sandy Praeger, R-Lawrence, said the bonds probably would be part of end-of-session negotiations between Graves and lawmakers.
Graves' position to increase taxes to fund education and social services is at odds with most lawmakers.
Janet Murguia, executive vice chancellor for university relations at KU, said she wasn't discouraged by Graves' remarks.
"My understanding is the governor is supportive of this," Murguia said.
"We recognize there is a lot of positioning, and everyone has their set of priorities," Murguia said, but added that she believed before the session ends all sides would support research and education funding.
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