University presidents sound alarm to lawmakers over governor's proposed budget cuts
JEFFERSON CITY • The leaders of Missouri's public universities sounded the alarm to lawmakers this week about the governor's proposed budget cuts to higher education.
During hearings Tuesday and Wednesday, presidents of universities that receive state money - from the University of Missouri System to the two-year State Technical College in Linn - told members of the House subcommittee on education funding that they've already cut many programs they didn't want to and, with the additional proposed eliminations, they had to consider firing faculty and staff and raising student tuition.
"They have every right to be gloomy," Rep. Donna Lichtenegger, R-Jackson, said. "They have been hit tremendously hard. We're going to try and find them some money this year. We can't keep going at this rate."
Gov. Eric Greitens' proposed budget called for $68 million in reductions in higher education spending. Senate and House leaders have said they won't cut universities' funding by that amount.
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