While Gov. Matt Bevin's budget spares K-12 funding from proposed across-the-board cuts to most state agencies, boosts funding by $39M to allow for enrollment growth, and redirects all lottery funds back to education as originally intended, post-secondary institutions could endure another round of cutbacks.
In a campus-wide communiqué, University of Kentucky President Eli Capilouto wrote that Bevin's recommendations present "significant challenges" and University of Louisville President James Ramsey warned the austere budget would "take a toll" on the school.
Senate President Stivers described the proposal as "manageable" and reminded reporters state funding only accounts for a portion of universities' operating funds.
"The bulk of the revenues that universities get are from tuitions, fees, meal programs, and lodging related to dorms," the Manchester Republican said, adding that a 9 percent drop in state funding likely equates to less than two percent of schools' total budgets.
Bevin also wants to see state funding for higher education tied to performance measures designed to increase the number of graduates in fields suffering from a talent shortage. Democratic House Speaker Greg Stumbo suggested a middle ground.
"Maybe there are ways to incentivize people who want to go into those professions, but I don't think we're quite to the stage where the government tells you what you're going to be before you decide what you're going to be," the speaker said.
If enacted as is, the governor's spending plan would cut 4.5 percent from many state agencies this year with 9 percent annual cuts to follow in 2017-18. Bevin argues the belt-tightening is necessary if the state is to live within its means and get a serious grip on the pension crisis.