Thursday, Gov. Dave Heineman presented his budget recommendations for 2007-09. They included a proposed increase in the university’s budget of 1.1 percent in fiscal year 2008 and 2.2 percent in fiscal year 2009. These recommendations are well below the level of support requested in the Board of Regents’ biennial budget request. Compared to the University of Nebraska’s requested budget, the governor’s recommendations leave a gap of more than $20 million in the first year alone, exclusive of salary or tuition increases.
Since 1966, there have been only two years in which the university received a percentage increase lower than what the university proposed. In fiscal year 1986, our budget was reduced 1 percent. In fiscal year 2003, the university’s budget was reduced by 4.7 percent.
The following is a statement from NU President James B. Milliken released after the governor’s budget message.
I am deeply disappointed in the governor’s proposed budget for University of Nebraska. At a time when higher education is more important than ever for individual economic opportunity as well as state competitiveness, Nebraska risks taking a big step backwards.
The university’s number one goal has been affordable access to a college education, and with the leadership of the governor and the Legislature over the last two years, we have kept tuition increases at their lowest levels in years. The governor and I have joined to advocate a significant increase in the
state’s college-going rate. But under this proposed budget, access and affordability for students and families would suffer.
I have high regard for Gov. Heineman and I have no doubt he believes the course he has recommended is good for Nebraska. But funding higher education at a level that would almost certainly restrict access and require a combination of significant tuition increases and major cuts to programs cannot be good for our state’s future.
The key to Nebraska’s future is to be successful in the competition for talent-by providing quality teaching, research and outreach for Nebraskans and by attracting new talented people to our state. I believe Nebraskans understand that investing in higher education is essential to this goal.