Controversial budget cuts on the horizon
By Valerie Velikaya
Gov. Sam Brownback’s controversial budget cuts for higher education paint a grim fiscal picture for the college in the near future.
The two percent allotment decrease on the state’s higher education institutions was created to help improve the current budget deficit. The proposal, which went into effect this month, will result in a loss of $437,399 in state support.
Kate Allen, associate vice president of institutional advancement and government affairs, said that last month’s tax receipts were “down approximately $47 million from the state’s budget.”
It’s likely that additional allotment reductions will continue in the coming months.
On Thursday, Feb. 19, the Board of Trustees reviewed the school’s upcoming cuts.
College Lobbyist Dick Carter began his report with limp prospects.
“There is a number of things that have to move forward for this year’s budget to work,” said Carter.
Carter proceeded by quoting the state’s Budget Director Shawn Sullivan, who said, “There is no way to cut out of the budget hole that we’re in.”
As a result, revenue will need to be generated in order to offset the state’s budget deficit. Otherwise, additional allotments will be placed.
While last month’s numbers remained weak, this month’s have yet to be seen; however, according to Carter, they’re not expected to raise hopes on halting the budget deficit.
Brownback’s proposal includes a tax increase on liquor and tobacco and the slowing down of existing tax cuts.
When Chairman Jerry Cook asked Carter if there were any “helpful thoughts” regarding the two-year budget plan, Carter said, “I wish I had some thoughts that were helpful. I think the only saving grace is that the two-year budget process certainly gives you a glimpse, or it creates a planning scenario that wasn’t there before when the legislature was only looking at things one fiscal year at a time. It certainly gives you a goal to look forward to and obviously it would create the need for adjustments when either revenues are not there or they exceed,” he said.
State funding has decreased 15 percent over the past three to four years, which “puts pressure on the local effort and our budget,” said Cook. “That troubles me because what that forces the state to do is give us the unfunded mandate by cutting our support,” said trustee Musil. “We end up asking more from local taxpayers, which another form of unfunded mandate …”
The school is looking into installing body cameras, a hefty budget that will amount to $23,000, including $6,000 worth of storage per month (view p. 11 for more information about body cameras).
“… [T]he impact of these cuts to [college] students … I believe that continues to be determined,” said Allen.
To watch video of the Board of Trustee’s meeting, click on this link >>>