UM system warned of funding cuts
Commissioner for Higher Education Greg Fitch warned that public universities could lose up to $100 million in state funding.
Published Nov. 11, 2005
Missouri public universities could lose $100 million in state funding over the next two years, according to an announcement by the Missouri Commissioner of Higher Education.
"We take this statement very seriously," UM system spokesman Joe Moore said. "Higher education has taken serious cuts during the past five fiscal years."
Commissioner Greg Fitch warned university administrators of the anticipated shortfall in an e-mail sent earlier this week.
"I have been informed by the Office of Administration of a budget reduction plan for (fiscal year) 2007," Fitch stated in the e-mail. The cuts could range from 10 to 12 percent of state higher education funding.
Legislators with the Missouri House of Representatives' Interim Committee on Higher Education Funding said earlier this year that they might introduce a bill that would set total funding for all state universities at $1 billion.
State universities last received $1 billion in 2002. Appropriations have decreased to about $715 million for higher education in fiscal year 2006, which began in July.
The UM system received just more than $400 million in state funding for fiscal year 2006.
"In the coming days, I would ask that you begin development of initial plans for how to address this projected shortfall," Fitch wrote to administrators.
Fitch said the cuts would have no effect on the current fiscal year.
Maria Curtis, the student representative to the UM system Board of Curators, said the board is still formulating a response to Fitch's e-mail.
"We will obviously be very aware of the situation and contribute to the mutual solution in the event of a cut," Curtis said.
In an interview with The Maneater, Fitch said state revenues had grown slowly in the past several years, but the rate was not keeping up with increased demands for state funds.
Fitch said Missouri Budget Director Larry Schepker told him about the possible funding shortfall.
Schepker did not return phone calls Thursday.
"MDHE (Missouri Department of Higher Education) staff and I will work with the institutions to consolidate these responses and submit one system-wide plan to the Office of Administration," Fitch wrote in the e-mail.
Fitch e-mailed the warning to presidents and chancellors of Missouri's two and four-year colleges and universities. Fitch apologized in the message for communicating the information by e-mail, but wrote that "initiating a timely response is critical in this situation."
Moore said UM system president Elson Floyd would make a statement on the projected shortfall today.