Cellucci Plan Level Funds University by Daniel J. Fitzgibbons Chronicle staff Feb. 4 , 2000 The University system would be level-funded next year under the Fiscal 2001 budget proposal filed last week by Gov. A. Paul Cellucci. According to the spending bill known as House 1, the five-campus University system would see an $847,019 increase in state support. The University is requesting an increase of $42 million to cover salary increases, inflation and funding for strategic priorities. The University's budget for this year is $455.4 million, which includes $451.7 million in state funding and supplemental appropriations of $3.7 million. Cellucci also recommended $1.75 million for Commonwealth College, the same amount the state provided this year. The University has requested an increase of $391,000 for the honors college. The governor's plan scales back state funding for library acquisitions and scholarship programs. Under the Cellucci bill, spending on library acquisitions would drop from this year's level of $14 million to $11 million. He also recommended a $3.9 million reduction for scholarships from this year's allocation of $105.2 million. Cellucci's proposals for level funding most state operations were little surprise to most observers, since the governor is pushing for a significant cuts in the state income tax. With the Legislature in the hands of Democrats, Cellucci's proposal is expected to do little more than serve as the traditional kickoff of the budget process. As in recent years, both House and Senate budget planners are likely to craft spending plans that reflect the priorities of the legislative leadership. The budget process moves next to the House, where the Ways and Means Committee will draft its version of a funding bill.