Updated: 5:44 a.m. Friday:
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) A legislative committee’s proposed budget for the Kansas higher education system would shift money away from Kansas State University and the main University of Kansas campus.
The Senate Ways and Means Committee on Thursday approved a higher education budget of $2.7 billion both for the fiscal year beginning July 1st and the following fiscal year.
The panel endorsed a subcommittee’s proposal to trim operating funds for the main University of Kansas campus in Lawrence by $4.6 million each year.
The money would go to the University of Kansas Medical Center to help it expand in Wichita and to provide scholarships for medical students.
Kansas State University would lose $3.2 million in operating funds each year.
But the committee said it could review the spending again later.
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(Thursday morning report)
The Education Subcommittee of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means issued its recommendations yesterday for fiscal years 16 and 17, which included $3.1 million in cuts for Kansas State University. The proposed cuts come on the heels of a nearly $3.1 million cut to the university announced Feb. 5 for the current fiscal year, FY 15.
“Continued cuts in higher education have a harmful effect on the opportunities we can provide to the students and citizens of Kansas,” said Kirk Schulz, president of Kansas State University. “At a time when we see increasing enrollment, the amount of state support continues to remain in flux. We had agreed to manage a flat budget for the next two fiscal years, and the proposed change in this agreement is disappointing.
“Budget cuts translate into fewer scholarships, higher tuition for our families and reduced research,” Schulz noted. “Kansas State University has a mission to serve the entire state through the K-State Research and Extension arm. As the state’s land-grant university, we are charged with reaching every county in the state with programs to assist with the health, education and economic well-being of our citizens. Continued state support is essential to maintain these programs, which are highly valued by Kansans.”
Schulz said the university will continue to work with the Legislature and governor’s office to protect the state’s investment in higher education.
