As state budgets were being determined this spring, veterinary schools and colleges looked to outside resources to make sure their requests were heard.
At the Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Dean Ralph C. Richardson said he had weekly communications with the university’s legislative liaison. Every Monday he also met with other deans and senior administrators to talk about where they stood during the budgeting process.
“We have had some inquires from legislators on our budget and we have provided them information. I would say it’s a fairly continuous, close-working relationship with the board of regents and legislature,” Dr. Richardson said.
State VMAs can also act as go-betweens for veterinary colleges and state governments. Richard Antweiler, executive director of the Missouri VMA, said his association communicates with the University of Missouri-Columbia College of Veterinary Medicine to identify college needs.
“They cannot be involved in lobbying, so it’s upon the profession as citizens of the state to find out what the needs are,” Antweiler explained. “From that point on, that’s where the MVMA can use its membership and legislative committee and paid lobbyists.”
Antweiler travels to Jefferson City often and speaks with budget committee members. That way, when the college comes up in discussion, he said, “(the legislators) know what the issues are about, and hopefully, they see our need as greater than all other requests for the same dollar.”
Antweiler said of the $1 billion available in state stimulus funds, there have been $1.7 billion in requests. The college would like to see building repairs and increase its facilities capacity to accommodate greater class sizes.
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