As the Indiana General Assembly takes a look into the state budget, Ball State should take a closer look into its own spending.
A glance down McKinley Avenue leaves two construction projects in plain view. The Music Instruction Building is a recently-begun project while the Shafer Tower project still seems to have odds and ends to finish.
If Ball State is having trouble maintaining and operating its budget, now is not the time for new construction.
State money should be used to help increase funding for professors and help keep tuition rates stable. The university recently underwent one tuition increase and most students could not afford another.
During the last election, Rep. Tiny Adams, D-Muncie, expressed his concerns on university spending. Adams said universities' board of trustees need to focus away from funding capital projects.
If they don't, he said, he would be willing to take measures to "get their attention."
Adams previously supported projects like the construction of the Music Instruction Building, but he said a line needs to be drawn during these economic times.
Maybe it is about time the general assembly gets Ball State's attention. The Indiana Commission for Higher Education gave Ball State a recommendation for the amount of funding the university can request over the next two fiscal years.
The recommendation does not fund building the proposed Communications Media Building. It also fails to allot any money for cost-of-living adjustments or salary increases. If the university wants to increase its faculty pay, it will have to seek alternate funds, including tuition increases.
It is likely the general assembly will match the request recommended by the CHE.
Ball State needs to be aware of the needs of the state. Constant construction and regular tuition increases are not the answer.
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