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New College scrambles after Bush vetoes moneyBy BARRY KLEIN
© St. Petersburg Times, New College officials knew Gov. Jeb Bush had serious reservations about the Legislature's decision to convert their 650-student program into the state's 11th university. But they had no idea he would veto the $1.2-million appropriation that was supposed to pay for the change. "We assumed that if the governor didn't want an independent New College, he would have said during the legislative session that he wasn't going to fund it," Michael Bassis, the college's acting president, said Monday. But he didn't. And now officials at the Sarasota school are scrambling for alternatives just two weeks before the college severs its longstanding ties with the University of South Florida and becomes the state's newest university. Bassis said New College badly needs to have the money restored. After 26 years as a liberal arts program managed by USF, the college lacks the administrative structure required to run a full-service university, he said. It needs a lobbyist, university attorneys and additional clerical workers. Eventually, it will need more office and classroom space. "If this cut is permanent, then it's a very serious matter," Bassis said. "The one thing we don't want to do is compromise the quality of this program." Lisa Gates, a Bush spokeswoman, said Monday that the governor is aware New College needs financial assistance. He intends to help, she said, but there have been no discussions about a timetable or a specific amount. Gates said the veto was unavoidable. The bill appropriating the $1.2-million clearly stated it was to be used for the benefit of regional campuses. But the Legislature made New College an independent university, which means it no longer qualified, she said. The veto shocked campus officials, who said they had no clue it was coming. It irritated some prominent lawmakers, including Senate President John McKay, the Bradenton Republican who had several of his projects cut when Bush slashed $290-million from the Legislature's budget. But the veto wasn't out of left field. Bush said several times in recent months that he wasn't sold on the idea of New College as an independent university. He noted that the school has just 650 students, or about one-fiftieth the enrollment of USF. He said that number is too small to achieve the economies of scale needed to run a university in a cost-efficient manner. But McKay forced Bush's hand when he tacked the independence bid onto a must-pass bill -- the Republican-led reorganization of Florida's education system. State Sen. Don Sullivan, R-Seminole, said he assumes the veto was a policy decision and not a matter of personal pique. But he wonders whether it served the state's interest. He said the New College campus might be the most neglected in Florida's university system. "They need help just to get up to an acceptable level," Sullivan said. And he said there is a larger issue to consider: whether Florida will spend the money required to nurture a liberal arts program, which has few obvious economic benefits, at least compared to an engineering school or computer science program. "I think we should, but I expect this will be a subject of discussion for the next several years," Sullivan said. "We need to reach a consensus." Recent coverageGov. Bush lops off $290-million (June 16, 2001) War over regents gets fiery (June 4, 2001) The New College try (May 11, 2001) USF expansion depends heavily on funds, letter warns senator (December 21, 2000)
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From the Times state desk
From the state wire
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