The Nebraska Legislature could begin debate this afternoon on a proposal that would not cut as much from the University of Nebraska’s budget allocation as had been proposed.
Members of the Legislature’s Appropriations Committee advanced a measure Wednesday evening that would reduce the university’s allocation by $10 million. Gov. Mike Johanns had proposed that $20 million be cut from the university’s budget.
“We are extremely grateful to members of the Appropriations Committee for their recommendations,” said Bob Bartee, executive assistant to the chancellor at UNMC. “The university recognizes it has to assist the state in addressing its fiscal crisis. The committee’s recommendations treat the university fairly in this process. Every UNMC employee should personally thank the committee members for making this important choice in a difficult situation.”
In addition to the budget allocation change, the Appropriation Committee also restored $3 million to the state’s medical residency programs and $800,000 to three student financial aid programs and other items.
“We are very pleased to see that the committee has recognized the importance of continuing to fund the direct medical education and indirect medical education programs that provide critical funding for our residency programs,” said James O. Armitage, M.D., dean of the UNMC College of Medicine. “This gives our teaching hospitals and the state time to gain approval from the federal government of an intergovernmental transfer plan that will greatly assist the state and these institutions in providing support for our residency programs.”
Lawmakers could begin debate on the committee’s recommendations today.
“We still have a ways to go in order to gain passage and final approval of the committee’s recommendations by the full Legislature,” Bartee said. “In baseball parlance, we now have a runner on second base, and have to work hard to push her across home plate.”