|
|
|
PITTSBURG —
The State of Kansas is facing a budget shortfall of half a billion dollars and must make it up somehow.
However, one appropriations proposal has university educators very concerned, because it could be a double whammy of significant cuts and salary caps that could leave the state's universities at a competitive disadvantage.
The Kansas House of Representatives appropriations committee has introduced a bill to help close the gap that includes a 4 percent cut to higher education in Kansas and a proposal for a state salary cap that also would apply to university faculty.
"The 4 percent cut would mean a loss of more than $1.4 million to Pittsburg State," said Shawn Naccarato, director of government and community relations at Pittsburg State University.
He said the university currently operates with the same state funding as in 2009, and the cuts would take it back to at least 2005 levels.
Naccarato noted it is early in the process and many steps remain between the current proposal, which hasn't yet passed the House, and the eventual reconciliation of the budget the House passes with the Senate’s final budget.
A Senate budget was proposed Friday and currently includes a 2 percent cut to higher education.
However, the proposed cuts exemplify a trend of higher education funding stagnating or being whittled back.
Naccarato said the state funded about 75 percent of PSU's budget 10 years ago. The state/tuition split now is closer to 50-50, with a small portion of the university's funding coming from research dollars.
"We receive about 50 percent of our overall funding from state funds," he said.
The state's largest universities receive about 30 percent of their funding from the State of Kansas, and make up for the remainder through tuition and research dollars, and Naccarato said research also is a bright spot for Pitt State.
"We are, in that regard, unique in terms of regional institutions," he said, adding that within the proposal the state still plans to fund a $500,000 promise to help the university to expand its polymer chemistry program.
But, a significant cut still will have to be made up, and one of the first fallbacks is raising tuition.
"This would put additional strain and pressure on the tuition committee," Naccarato said. "This is very concerning for us."
"We work very diligently to keep our tuition as moderate as possible," he said.
Naccarato said the whole situation is very different than the budget proposal originally rolled out by Kansas Governor Sam Brownback earlier this year.
"We were very pleased with the governor's recommendations for higher education," he said. "He's shown a commitment to supporting higher education."
However, the governor's proposal also included extending a 0.5 percent state sales tax scheduled to sunset this year, as well as a proposed elimination of several income tax deductions.
"The House Republicans have instead chosen an all-cuts approach instead of a revenue enhancement approach," Naccarato said.
"To increase our concern in the House … they've also proposed and adopted salary caps for all state employees," he said.
He said the university would be unable to use tuition or research dollars to pay additional salaries, and the net effect would be decreased competitiveness in the state’s universities.
This would impact Pittsburg State in a particularly significant way, because of its location in a four-state region, and potentially could cut into the university’s attractiveness to students from other states in the region.
"The best and most competitive faculty would not stay around," Naccarato said.
He said, in turn, this could affect Pittsburg and Southeast Kansas.
"From an economic standpoint, we are a significant economic engine and generator for the area," he said. "Our ability to remain competitive and to grow is essential for the area."
Plenty of time remains for legislators to make changes, and Naccarato said the case will be made for higher education during budget hearings, and there also is still time for individuals to talk with their state legislators about university funding.
The State of Kansas is facing a budget shortfall of half a billion dollars and must make it up somehow.
However, one appropriations proposal has university educators very concerned, because it could be a double whammy of significant cuts and salary caps that could leave the state's universities at a competitive disadvantage.
The Kansas House of Representatives appropriations committee has introduced a bill to help close the gap that includes a 4 percent cut to higher education in Kansas and a proposal for a state salary cap that also would apply to university faculty.
"The 4 percent cut would mean a loss of more than $1.4 million to Pittsburg State," said Shawn Naccarato, director of government and community relations at Pittsburg State University.
He said the university currently operates with the same state funding as in 2009, and the cuts would take it back to at least 2005 levels.
Naccarato noted it is early in the process and many steps remain between the current proposal, which hasn't yet passed the House, and the eventual reconciliation of the budget the House passes with the Senate’s final budget.
A Senate budget was proposed Friday and currently includes a 2 percent cut to higher education.
However, the proposed cuts exemplify a trend of higher education funding stagnating or being whittled back.
Naccarato said the state funded about 75 percent of PSU's budget 10 years ago. The state/tuition split now is closer to 50-50, with a small portion of the university's funding coming from research dollars.
"We receive about 50 percent of our overall funding from state funds," he said.
The state's largest universities receive about 30 percent of their funding from the State of Kansas, and make up for the remainder through tuition and research dollars, and Naccarato said research also is a bright spot for Pitt State.
"We are, in that regard, unique in terms of regional institutions," he said, adding that within the proposal the state still plans to fund a $500,000 promise to help the university to expand its polymer chemistry program.
But, a significant cut still will have to be made up, and one of the first fallbacks is raising tuition.
"This would put additional strain and pressure on the tuition committee," Naccarato said. "This is very concerning for us."
"We work very diligently to keep our tuition as moderate as possible," he said.
Naccarato said the whole situation is very different than the budget proposal originally rolled out by Kansas Governor Sam Brownback earlier this year.
"We were very pleased with the governor's recommendations for higher education," he said. "He's shown a commitment to supporting higher education."
However, the governor's proposal also included extending a 0.5 percent state sales tax scheduled to sunset this year, as well as a proposed elimination of several income tax deductions.
"The House Republicans have instead chosen an all-cuts approach instead of a revenue enhancement approach," Naccarato said.
"To increase our concern in the House … they've also proposed and adopted salary caps for all state employees," he said.
He said the university would be unable to use tuition or research dollars to pay additional salaries, and the net effect would be decreased competitiveness in the state’s universities.
This would impact Pittsburg State in a particularly significant way, because of its location in a four-state region, and potentially could cut into the university’s attractiveness to students from other states in the region.
"The best and most competitive faculty would not stay around," Naccarato said.
He said, in turn, this could affect Pittsburg and Southeast Kansas.
"From an economic standpoint, we are a significant economic engine and generator for the area," he said. "Our ability to remain competitive and to grow is essential for the area."
Plenty of time remains for legislators to make changes, and Naccarato said the case will be made for higher education during budget hearings, and there also is still time for individuals to talk with their state legislators about university funding.
