Lawmakers Express Concerns About Future Funding For Higher Education

Some state legislators with years of experience in finding money for state programs are pessimistic about future funding for higher education. Our state colleges and universities are struggling under 20 percent cuts in state funding – hiking tuitions, cutting prgorams, services, and employees. Elementary and Secondary education, on the other hand, got a funding increase this year. The Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee for Education, Chuck Graham, says higher-ed should not begrudge the increase given lower-ed. Senate Higher Education Committee member Ken Jacob has nothing positive for future higher education funding. Both suggest it’s time to overhaul the state tax structure as a way to improve financing for higher education and other state programs.