Employee Organizations Meet Legislators

Although his schedule would not permit him to stay, President Albrecht stopped at a legislative luncheon sponsored by the employee associations on campus. He visited briefly with employees gathered for the luncheon and spoke with several of the elected officials invited to the event.

Sponsored by the Classified Employee Association and the Professional Employee Association, the luncheon provided an opportunity for those attending to get an insiders look at the coming legislative session. Legislators invited to the event included Lyle Hillyard, Peter Knudson, Ronda Menlove, Ben Ferry, Craig Buttars, Fred Hunsaker and Scott Wyatt. Due to exceptionally good weather, Ferry and Buttars called with apologies, citing the demands of their farming careers.

The capacity crowd heard brief overviews by each of the elected officials, and the session concluded with a brief question and answer session.

Ronda Menlove posed a rhetorical question for the legislative body. This is a budget surplus year, she said, and we need to decide where to put our revenues. Pay and salary issues are still a priority, she said, as is health care and its related costs. Water issues and planning may be major topics during the legislative session, as well as open space and use of agricultural land. Representatives Ferry and Buttars are especially well suited to provide insights into these issues, Menlove said.

Representative Hunsaker echoed Menlove's concern with salaries.

"USU is a great place to work," Hunsaker said. "There is an acknowledged need for better salaries. The dedication and commitment of the university's employees is outstanding and should be rewarded. I admire the effort you put into making the university great."

Hunsaker also presented an open invitation for anyone, individually or as a group, to contact him about issues or concerns that might be addressed in the coming legislative session.

Representative Wyatt spoke of his close association with the university. The cost of education has changed dramatically over the past 50 years, he said. The state of Utah must set prorities and ask, "What do we want?" "What do we need?" and "How much money do we have and how do we spend it?" People need to be the number one priority, he concluded.

Sen. Knudson reminded the crowd that the state of Utah has been recognized as one of the best managed states in the country. This, he said, didn't happen because of the governor or others. It is because of the hard working people and staff associated with the state and its agencies.

"People like you make this happen," he said.

Knudson also said the state must set priorities and manage the existing revenues to meet these priorities.

Sen. Hillyard concluded the session, echoing his colleagues in many areas. He stressed economic responsibility, noting that the state of Utah must operate within a balanced budget. When the closing legislative bell rings, the legislature is responsible for achieving a balanced budget, often using budget projections.

The combined membership of CEA and PEA is approximately 2,000. The groups are also a part of the larger state organization — UHESA, the Utah Higher Education Staff Association. Coming up is the UHESA Day at the Legislature, Feb. 2, 2006.