Governor Bevin’s proposed higher education cuts came under review during a house budget subcommittee meeting Thursday. The governor is suggesting trimming university budgets by nine percent over the next two years. Budget Review Subcommittee Chair Arnold Simpson expressed concern about the impact on tuition. “For every dollar we cut for higher education, approximately 70 cents has been charged in additional tuition,” said Simpson.
Several committee members asked for more budget specifics. State Budget Director John Chilton says he hopes the governor's budget is not in jeopardy. “We are delivering these comments to the governor,” Chilton said. “He’s having conversations as part of the process with the legislature and others.”
Chilton says Kentucky universities may not experience a 4.5 percent budget cut this fiscal year. Chilton says the end game is still to see the same savings after two and a half years. “It will be a reduced cut in the fiscal year 2016, with the idea that the cuts that would have otherwise been implemented in 2016 will be implemented in 2017 or 20?18,” explained Chilton.
Owensboro Representative Jimmy Glenn said any reduction in professor salaries could result in a loss of good teachers. Chilton says university administrators, like state government officials will make budget reduction decisions.
The budget review committee is expected to hear from the State Council on Postsecondary Education and officials with the community college system next week.?
