Ed budget called 'worst in a long time' isn't set in stone

The outlook is grim for higher-education leaders now expecting less than 10 percent of their original budget requests for items ranging from faculty retention to financial aid.

A decision this week by legislative leaders left only $56 million to go around state agencies like higher education. Commissioner of Higher Education Rich Kendell said Wednesday he is now expecting only about $4.5 million of the original $55 million in requests.

"This will be the worst budget we've had in a long, long time, even during the down days," Kendell said at a last-minute meeting of university presidents.

A letter by Sen. Lyle Hillyard, R-Logan, indicated the only higher-education request that can be funded with the pool of money is 50 percent of increased energy and building operation costs. But Hillyard noted higher education's budget is not yet set in stone.

There is still a chance the House and Senate will up the amount of money for state agencies, which could mean a few more higher-education priorities getting money. The Legislature also has yet to debate one-time money that could partially fund new financial aid and the engineering initiative.

"It's not so bleak. This is the first step and it's given them a reality check," Hillyard said. "If we end up with only $56 million, they won't get very much."

Kendell hopes to change some minds this week before students and universities end up footing the bill for increased costs. The priority list from the Higher Education Subcommittee was already only half of original requests at $25 million, but was at least doable, he said.

The lower funding came as a shock to university presidents like Utah State University President Stan Albrecht, especially in a year with $1 billion in surplus money fueling hopes of finally coming through on promises to faculty and students.

"Our message to our faculty and students was, 'Hang in with us, it's going to get a whole lot better,"' Albrecht said. "This proposed budget really flies in the face of that."

UVSC President William Sederburg said the current budget proposal was "embarrassing" for Utah, revealing that higher education falls low on its list of priorities. Instead of funneling surplus money back to residents in the form of tax cuts, Sederburg said he wants legislators to invest the money in education.