Further cuts loom for university budget

The legislature this week will reportedly consider an additional $30 million cut to the University of Nebraska’s budget. The reduction would be in addition to a previously recommended cut.

Starting Wednesday, the legislature will consider new amendments to lower further the Appropriations Committee budget. The university already agreed to a mid-year budget cut of $13 million and to an additional $13 million in the proposed next two-year budget.

The recommendation for the additional cut, reportedly from Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts, were in response to projections from the state’s forecasting board that state revenues could be another $50 million lower than expected.

The University of Nebraska campuses are a major economic engine for the state’s economy, to the tune of $3.9 billion annually. Independent reports show that for every $1 invested in the University of Nebraska, the state receives $6 in economic return.

University of Nebraska President Hank Bounds has 10 working groups that are making recommendations to save money for the mid-year budget cut of $13 million and address the cuts proposed in the next two-year budget.

“These cuts, and the one proposed in the next two-year university budget will be significant, but it is important that the university budget not be reduced more than the Appropriations Committee recommendation on April 21,” said Bob Bartee, vice chancellor for academic affairs for UNMC.

“The university is already contributing its fair share to balance the state budget,” Bartee said. “Additional deeper cuts beyond what the Appropriations Committee advanced would be devastating and will significantly drive up tuition rates and affect the academic programs.

“If university funding is important to you, now is the time for you to contact state senators,” Bartee said.

Reasons to support the Appropriations Committee recommendation are that it will:

• Prevent tuition hikes from skyrocketing for multiple years;
• Sustain the university as an economic engine for the state;
• Allow the university to remain competitive in recruiting the best faculty and staff; and
• Assure continuation of our momentum.

“There are still other options to make up this revenue gap other than cuts,” Bartee said. “This is the time for supporters of the university to make their voices heard.”