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Two lawmakers to propose millions to shore up FAMU

TALLAHASSEE - Days after an audit showed Florida A&M University didn't balance its books and often could not track how it spent money, two lawmakers said they will seek millions in state funds to help the struggling school.

Sen. Al Lawson and Rep. Curtis Richardson, both Leon County Democrats with FAMU ties, said they would seek funds from the Legislature to shore up the university's academic programs and services like housing and financial aid. Lawson estimated the package would total $4-million to $6-million.

Gov. Jeb Bush said Tuesday he would consider any proposal, but is not yet sure the school requires state assistance. The audit uncovered millions of dollars' difference between the school's budgeting and actual spending, but Larry Reese, FAMU's vice president for administrative and financial services, told trustees the differences have been reconciled since the auditors finished their work.

"The Legislature is going to have to be in a position to actually bail them out and put them on a solid footing," Lawson said.

Richardson said lawmakers would be cautious. "We're going to have to be assured that the processes are in place to make sure we're not throwing good money after bad," he said.

Acting FAMU president Castell Bryant said she would offer legislators those assurances. She has drawn praise from Bush and both lawmakers for her work since taking over for Fred Gainous, who was fired in September after a tenure marked by bookkeeping problems and disputes.

Bush said the state should work to protect students at the state's only public historically black university. "It is a great university with really talented students, and the adults haven't completely fulfilled their part of the bargain yet. And these young people are suffering because of it," Bush said.

Lawson said the proposal would not include money for the school's athletics departments, which auditors said will lose $3.5-million this year. Lawson, a FAMU graduate, last year expressed interest in becoming president of the university, but on Monday he said he's not qualified. But Richardson said "the university needs someone like Sen. Lawson," possibly in another executive role.

[Last modified March 2, 2005, 00:46:17]