Without the state's promised contributions, private donations for scholarships, research and endowed professorships may dwindle.
By ANITA KUMAR
Published December 4, 2003
TALLAHASSEE - Key state legislators are working on a deal that would pay Florida's 11 public universities $100-million to match hundreds of private donations for scholarships, endowed chairs and research programs.
The schools, including the University of South Florida, have been struggling to keep private money rolling in following several years of reduced matches by the Legislature.
"We need some kind of certainty right now," Paul Robell, the University of Florida's vice president for development, told state higher education leaders Wednesday. "The uncertainty is killing us."
Donors are starting to demand contracts that guarantee gifts will be returned if the state doesn't pay its share. Others are vowing not to give more until the state pays for pending gifts. Some are pledging money but won't hand over the check until the state does.
House Speaker Johnnie Byrd invited university representatives to his office two weeks ago to tell them he wants to fund the entire backlog next year. He pledged to find the money if the schools agreed to cap matches in the future.
School officials not only agreed, but also reminded Byrd that they made that suggestion last year.
"There was nothing discussed that the university presidents had not already agreed to," said Dan Holsenbeck, a University of Central Florida vice president.
State and school officials will consider capping state matches at $3-million a year on any project, not to exceed $15-million over five years. They also would raise the minimum amount qualifying for a match.
That minimum is now $100,000, with the state contributing 50 percent, or $50,000. The bigger the gift, the bigger the match, with a 100 percent match on gifts of more than $2-million.
The state owes the 11 universities a total of $100-million, a backlog that in some cases is holding up scholarships, research programs and endowed chairs.
USF is owed more than $16-million for about 60 projects, including $5-million for an All Children's Hospital Foundation endowment, $557,000 for research into pediatric diabetes, and $50,000 for a library oral history program.
Last year, the matching gift program was one of the many issues that divided the House and Senate as they tried to negotiate a state budget.
The Senate suggested giving the universities money to cover much of the backlog but didn't identify a source. The House recommended no money.
"It's nice to see the House is going to go along," said Senate Appropriations Chairman Ken Pruitt, R-Port St. Lucie, when told of Byrd's meeting with university officials. "We want to keep the spirit of the program but have some commitment to living within our means. That's something the Senate is all for."
Senate President Jim King, R-Jacksonville, said he supports the compromise but cautioned that it would be difficult to find $100-million of non-recurring money in a tight budget year.
Byrd, R-Plant City, did not return phone calls Wednesday.
Since the matching program began in 1979, the state has given universities about $400-million for scholarships, professorships and other programs.
The Board of Governors, which oversees the state's universities, asked for $60-million in matching gifts next year in the recommended budget it sent to the Legislature.
"It's the best bargain in the state," said Carolyn Roberts, the board's chairwoman.
