UA budget underscores advising, deferred maintenance

November 3, 2011

Marmian Grimes

The University of Alaska Board of Regents approved an overall budget request for the next fiscal year that emphasizes more and better student advising and a continuation of the tough battle to reduce deferred maintenance across the 16-campus UA System.

The FY13 operating budget, which now goes to Gov. Sean Parnell for his consideration, focuses on high-demand job training in engineering, health and biomedical fields, teacher education, and workforce development.

The operating budget for UA reflects a number of internal cost-control measures taken in recent months, including a $7 million cost avoidance in the employee health-care plan, reductions in certain fixed costs and an effort to hold down utility cost increases as much as possible.

“I really think the administration is doing a pretty good job of containing costs,” said Regent Tim Brady of Anchorage.

Read the full news release online.