FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 11, 2010

BOARD APPLAUDS GOVERNOR’S BUDGET PROPOSAL

Recommendation Reverses Trend of State Disinvestment in Higher Education

(TOPEKA) – This evening Board of Regents’ Chair Jill Docking, of Wichita, issued the following statement regarding Governor Mark Parkinson’s State of the State Address:

“The Governor made it crystal clear that he values higher education and believes that a healthy higher education system contributes to a healthy economy. The Kansas economy won’t grow without successful businesses, and businesses won’t reach their full potential without the highly skilled workers that are produced by the state’s public higher education system.”

“After absorbing $106 million in cuts over the past year, the state’s higher education system now sits at Fiscal Year 2006 funding levels, which is why I’m thankful the Governor didn’t propose additional allotments for Fiscal Year 2010. We’re now at the bare minimum in terms of the funding levels required to retain eligibility for the receipt of federal stimulus dollars. Any additional cuts whatsoever will jeopardize the millions of dollars in vitally important federal funding that have served as a life-preserver for our higher education system.”

“The Board applauds the Governor’s politically difficult but fiscally responsible decision to propose a revenue enhancement package for Fiscal Year 2011. While it’s never easy to propose a tax increase, the proposal does serve two important purposes. First, it spares the higher education system from additional reductions, which, at this point, would devastate a system already crippled by budget cuts. Second, the $10 million budget enhancement represents an important and positive step in reversing what has become an extremely damaging higher education funding trend. If we do ultimately receive this enhancement, the Board will commit it to strategically targeted investments aimed at boosting the Kansas economy.”

“Our higher education system has certainly shouldered its fair share of the state’s budget burden. At a time when enrollments continue to increase statewide, over 750 employees and positions have been laid off, held vacant, or eliminated, and over 450 academic programs and classes have been eliminated, producing increased class sizes and making it less likely students will be able to graduate on time. Tuition has increased, institutions are now turning away qualified Kansans from high demand programs, and some institutions are even considering enrollment caps. It will take the next decade for the state’s higher education system to fully recover from the recent budget cuts. The trend of state disinvestment in higher education must be reversed if the Kansas economy is to ultimately thrive, which is why the Governor’s proposal is so important.”

“The Board strongly urges the Legislature to approve the Governor’s revenue enhancement package. Because higher education is an engine for economic growth, the state should invest in its higher education system in order to lay the foundation for its future economic recovery. Now is the time to invest in the future of Kansas.”

# # #

Budget Details:

Higher Education System Support (State Funding):