By MEGGIE I. FOSTER
Assistant Editor

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — During the process of tightening the state budget, Indiana’s Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (ADDL) received a recommendation to cut its budget by 15 percent, which may result in major changes to the way the ADDL serves the state, said Director Steve Hooser.
The proposed budget cut was brought forth to the Indiana General Assembly by the Indiana Commission on Higher Education.

This recommendation follows a 4 budget cut to ADDL in 2009 and an additional 6 percent cut in 2010, forcing ADDL to increase its fee structure last year.
“If followed through by the Indiana State Legislature, this would drastically cut the annual appropriation to the ADDL by over $517,000 per year,” said Hooser. “A budget cut of 15 percent would require probable reductions of such a magnitude that it would significantly reduce the ability of the ADDL to meet the needs of the citizens of Indiana.”

Hooser said that 99 percent of the ADDL state appropriation goes toward salaries and fringes, therefore any funding cuts or raises will probably result in cuts in ADDL personnel and services unless additional funds are found.
“We’re already operating with a reduced personnel and it is difficult to always adequately meet the needs of the State of Indiana,” he said.
“We have no surge capacity in times of emergency and no cross-training of personnel because of low numbers.”

And although 30 percent of the ADDL budget is derived from fees for tests and tests, fee income has not improved to the point where it can be used to support salaries or purchase any major equipment.

“ADDL is here and our mission is to serve Indiana, we’re doing all we can, but as Dr. Thacker (former director of ADDL, Leon Thacker) told me prior to his retirement, ‘This is as bad as he’s ever seen it,’” lamented Hooser. “If this (budget cut) moves forward, ADDL will change drastically in every way.”
According to Hooser, the proposed budget cut is simply that – a proposal or a recommendation from ICHE.

“We will keep you posted as the legislative session moves forward,” he said during the quarterly BOAH meeting on Thursday, Jan. 6 at the BOAH office in Indianapolis.