Thompson: Where can we actually make the budget cuts?

By Dan Thompson

Sunday, November 30, 2008

Over the past few years, the legislature has spent $300 million constructing an underground parking garage at the capitol building in Topeka as part of a renovation project. I certainly don't want my esteemed state representatives to have to walk to work in the rain, but such spending is as a perverse misappropriation of taxpayer money — money that should be spent on services for the disabled and subsidies for higher education.

Now the state government faces a severe budget shortfall. Kansas may not yet be requesting a bailout from the federal government, as California recently has, but the fiscal situation looks downright dismal, and students will no doubt suffer the consequences.

Researchers estimate that Kansas will suffer a $141 million budget shortfall at the end of the 2009 fiscal year. Kansas is required by its constitution to keep a balanced budget, which means a fall in tax revenue means a commensurate cut in spending. The deficit is projected to top $1 billion in 2010.

Gov. Kathleen Sebelius told state agencies to expect a 3 percent cut in funding this fiscal year and an additional 4 percent next year. In total, the state predicts it will reduce funding to higher education by a total of $114.4 million, a figure that will no doubt be revised.

The lion's share of the state budget is spent on K-12 education, which the governor cannot cut without risking litigation. Kansas’ constitution guarantees adequate provision of public education. Cuts must come from somewhere else.

The Kansas Board of Regents has been lobbying to mitigate the effects of the budget shortfall on state universities. Chairwoman Donna Shank said that the cuts "would profoundly stunt the progress the system has made toward meeting the state's workforce and economic development needs." Shank appeals to the logic underlying the government subsidization of higher education, which not only benefits the students who receive it, but also the community where they will go on to live and work.

Students cannot take taxpayer support for granted. Funding will be cut for the deferred maintenance projects on university campuses.

We'll have to make do with exploding pipes and crumbling sidewalks. Already, last summer, the KU Medical Center declared a 90-day moratorium on hiring new staff, and spending cuts will no doubt impact the number and quality of faculty here in Lawrence, as well. Chancellor Robert Hemenway has hinted that a hike in tuition might be necessary.

— — Thompson is a Topeka senior in economics and political science.

Comments

linguo_the_grammar_robot (anonymous) says...

When will the endowment association step up? Those folks are loaded and I can't figure out what they're saving the money for.

December 1, 2008 at 12:17 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Abita (anonymous) says...

The Kansan should be pushing this agenda harder than it pushed replacing the kickoff chant. The student body should be making a huge deal out of this. These cuts are going to come down on the students' heads if a big stink isn't made.

Recently, several college presidents have waved their bonuses and raises because of financial cancers with their schools? Has Heminway done this?

We aught to expect every one of our professors to be ratcheting up their research in an effort to draw more money in. Universities give them great deals providing an institution and pay to do research, its time for them to bring more money back.

Work harder to get students out in four years to better spread around the money that the state does give KU. Increase fees for luxuries like parking on campus, riding the bus or using the student union.

December 1, 2008 at 12:20 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Advertisement