The University of Nebraska must cut 31/2 percent from its 2002-2003 budget, as a result of legislative actions taken this week in the Nebraska Unicameral.
The university was spared from deeper cuts when legislators overrode some of the vetoes of Gov. Mike Johanns. The university had been mandated during last year’s special session to cut 21/2 percent on July 1, 2002. The governor had called for an additional 3 percent cut, which would have resulted in a total cut of 5 1/2 percent for 2002-2003. The legislators added only 1 percent to the special session’s mandate of 21/2 percent.
“We’re pleased that legislators demonstrated their commitment to the university, which is an economic driver for the state,” said UNMC Chancellor Harold M. Maurer, M.D. “While these cuts will cause some turbulence in the Medical Center, they will not affect our momentum in becoming a world-class academic health center. We still plan to achieve that goal.”
This week, lawmakers were faced with tough choices, as a decrease in state revenue prompted cuts to be made from the biennial 2001-2003 budget that they passed last summer. They chose to sustain $30.3 million of Johanns’ spending vetoes and to override $44 million.