Although Gov. Bobby Jindal will present the preliminary executive budget today to the joint legislative committee for the 2014 fiscal year, changes in the University’s state appropriations remain uncertain.

The amount of state funds the University will receive in the 2014 fiscal year will be initially proposed in March and will be approved in late summer, said University Director of External Affairs Jason Droddy.

Last year, state support to higher education decreased by $65.9 million, and while the higher education budget also saw an increase of $48 million in fees and self-generated revenues, the amount of state appropriations each university receives are not reflected by those numbers alone.

Funds are not equally divided among the universities that receive appropriations, so the overall changes in the budget affect some institutions more than others.

Changes in tuition and faculty salary, which are significantly affected by state appropriations, will remain in question until the budget includes more specific figures about how higher education general funds will be allocated to each state university.

Keep an eye on TOPS funding, Droddy said.

As state appropriations decrease and tuition increases, TOPS has also increased.

“Parents and students are always concerned about the status of TOPS,” Droddy said. “Prospective students are trying to figure out which college to attend, so they’re always sensitive to TOPS information.”

Droddy said changes in health science funding should also be expected.

“Revenues flow from the hospitals to the medical centers, so we do not know what that will mean once the hospitals are leased,” Droddy said.