College Board Facing Tough Budget Decisions

The State College Board is facing a tough economic year. MPB's Patty Davis reports budget cuts at state Universities could exceed 5%.

The first full meeting of the new fiscal year will be dominated by discussions about money. Institutions of Higher Learning Commissioner Hank Bounds says budgets will be approved for this year, and with a 26 million dollar state revenue deficit in just the month of July, the writing is on the wall.

Bounds: Budget cuts are probably coming, unless we see some pretty significant turnarounds. I've been visiting with Presidents, talking about how we will deal with those cuts. My fear is that they could be greater than 5%.

Bounds says next year's revenue picture will also be reduced, partly because stimulus funds will end.

Bounds: The budget picture is just not a very pretty one, and it''s time right now to start preparing for the worst and hoping for the best, but we've gotta start putting some plans in place right now to deal with what could be some draconian cuts.

Along with members of the Student Affairs committee, College Board President Scott Ross is working to change the options for students buying high priced textbooks.

Ross: Some states have addressed this already, some by legislation, some by board policy. But we've done neither. The options of perhaps renting or having it all available online, I think everything is on the table as far as we're concerned. And there might be some things we can't do and have to go and ask the legislature for assistance with.

Board members met in committee on Wednesday and the full board will hear reports today, on everything from real estate and legal issues to budget and finance.