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Idaho higher ed budget to get $32.1 million cut

Written by Erin Bradfield - Argonaut

Thursday, 11 March 2010

Idaho legislators moved Tuesday to give the University of Idaho and other four-year public universities $32.1 million less next year. The Joint-Finance Appropriations Committee voted to allocate $377.7 million on the universities. “I think it really was very much on target with what we’ve been hearing earlier for the last at least three or four weeks,” said Keith Ickes, UI’s executive director of planning and budget. UI submitted a request to the state board last week for a 12 percent fee increase, which Ickes said would  cover a large amount of the deficit if approved. Historically, the board has been reluctant to approve fee requests in full. “I would certainly hope that the board understood that we made the (proposal) seriously — it wasn’t frivolous,” Ickes said. Even with the fee increase, Ickes said he didn’t anticipate any decline in enrollment or shifts to other schools in the state. “The states around us have tuition already at or above our levels, and in most cases, above,” Ickes said. “I don’t think enrollment declines are a significant concern.” Ickes outlined three avenues UI is pursuing to ensure continued solvency without layoffs: increased enrollment, its proposed fee increase and more external funding. “We are moving forward continuously to increase our research funding, our hardcore research funding, which is the funding that brings an overhead rate with it,” Ickes said. The university collects a portion of all research dollars for its own use. “And that overhead rate can go back and help offset some of the operating costs of the institution.” UI receives a majority of its funding from the state. For the 2010 fiscal year, the state allocation for the school was $82.7 million, but that amount thinned as legislators and the governor ordered money to be returned to the state. In FY2009, that figure was approximately $96.1 million. “I think the actions of (JFAC) this morning were obviously taken in a very difficult economic environment, and I think the result has been what we would consider a very tight budget for higher education,” Ickes said. The Associated Press contributed reporting. Add as favorites (28) | Views: 574 Be first to comment this article Write Comment Please keep the topic of messages relevant to the subject of the article. Personal verbal attacks will be deleted. Please don't use comments to plug your web site. Such material will be removed. Just ensure to *Refresh* your browser for a new security code to be displayed prior to clicking on the 'Send' button. Keep in mind that the above process only applies if you simply entered the wrong security code. Name: Title: Comment: