Holden calls for study of higher education

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- With additional budget cuts for public colleges and universities looming, Gov. Bob Holden on Wednesday called for the creation of new advisory commission to study the future of higher education institutions in Missouri.

Holden will announce a more detailed framework for the commission in coming weeks but said it will include lawmakers, higher education officials, private business leaders and members of not-for-profit organizations.

"Our vision must include not just a way to fill budget gaps and shortfalls, but a way to grow a better future through the best possible investment with our limited resources," Holden said. "And we need to attract the private investments and federal government resources and make the necessary performance improvements that will leverage those investments."

Holden made his comments before university administrators and state officials.

Not mentioned during the speech were budget withholdings to fill a revenue shortfall in the state budget that is currently estimated at $152 million but could rise to more than $300 million by June 30, the end of the 2003 fiscal year. Holden said afterward an announcement would be forthcoming.

Higher education has borne the brunt of budget reductions in recent years.

Southeast Missouri State University president Dr. Ken Dobbins said the school is bracing for another round of withholdings that could reduce its state appropriation of $45.4 million by 10 to 15 percent. Dobbins said the Holden administration has assured an announcement would come in late December.

That would give the Southeast Board of Regents time to consider tuition and fee increases for the spring semester, even though tuition bills have already been sent out.

Dobbins said students have been warned of potential increases and would be able to defer paying any additional amount until later in the semester, even though bills are due Jan. 3.

"We're not going to ask students to pay that fee increase then," Dobbins said.

As to the governor's call for a commission to assess the problems facing the public higher education system, Dobbins, who attended the speech, said it is a proposal that is overdue.

"I don't think higher ed has done a very good job explaining to the public how it is an economic driver," he said.

While the state has a $19 billion budget, all but $2 billion is earmarked for specific purposes or otherwise encumbered. Two departments receive the bulk of that discretionary spending -- higher education and elementary and secondary education. Spending on the latter department has been off limits to date, leaving higher education as the only source of large amounts of discretionary spending that can be cut to balance the budget.

Senate President Pro Tem Peter Kinder, who spoke after the governor, said it may be time to alleviate the burden on higher education by cutting spending at the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, which not only was immune from cuts this year but was one of the few state agencies to enjoy a substantial funding increase. Kinder's suggestion brought applause from higher education officials.

"The question is: Are we going to insist on double digit increases (for DESE) and take it out of your hide?" said Kinder, R-Cape Girardeau. "It is almost a game of budgetary chicken and I don't think we need to go through that again."

mpowers@semissourian.com

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