The University is set to take a $45.4 million budget cut next fiscal year, according to LSU System documents released Tuesday based on Gov. Bobby Jindal’s proposed executive budget. “It will be like the Flagship Agenda never happened,” Martin said in a University news release.  “The cut will likely cause us to fall back to where we were eight or 10 years ago.  This kind of cut — 20 percent — would be a major setback for LSU.”The budget cuts call for about 20 percent of state funding to be reduced from each academic campus. System Spokesman Charles Zewe said the proposal on how to distribute the budget cuts is not “across the board.” According to the documents, the System will implement a performance-based support fund of $347,865 for LSU’s main campus to help subdue the $45.4 million budget cut. Jindal is expected to propose on Friday a $219 million budget cut in higher education state funding for the fiscal year beginning July 1 — meaning a $34.8 million cut for the University. The total cut includes the now permanent $10.3 million mid-year budget cut for fiscal year 2008-09.”We will do all we can to minimize the adverse impacts, but this will clearly do real harm to a great university,” Martin said in the release.In addition to the cuts, the state will not continue to fund several grant and dual-enrollment programs, as it previously pledged, the release stated. Martin said the University will honor promises made to students and will pick up the costs not covered by the state this semester, totaling as much as $1.1 million. LSU broke into the top tier of U.S. News & World Report’s “America’s Best Colleges” list in August, an accomplishment that makes the budget cuts even more painful, Martin said. He said the ranking is a result of the Flagship Agenda — a plan to make the University nationally competitive by 2010 — and the Legislature funding LSU at the Southern regional average during the past two years. Martin said in the release he wants to see the Univerity rewarded for its high levels of performance.The University will work with the System to develop strategies to maintain the core mission of the University — educating students and continuing research for Louisiana. Zewe said it is important to remember the governor’s budget is a proposal and the numbers may change. The decision is ultimately left with the Legislature, whose session begins April 27. System President John Lombardi told System chancellors and the Board of Supervisors in an e-mail sent Tuesday there are many options for dealing with the cuts, including consolidation, reorganization of programs and layoffs.”We will request … authorization to implement the 5 percent tuition increase authorized by the Legislature in the last session,” Lombardi said in the e-mail. “We understand the governor’s … budget will include funding for the TOPS costs associated with the increase.”Lombardi, who declined further comment Tuesday night, stressed in the e-mail the importance of approaching these cuts as if they are permanent. Zewe said the federal “stimulus” funds for Louisiana higher education are expected to be about $219 million. But the federal money, which will significantly reduce the impact of the state budget shortfall on higher education, is only good for two years, meaning the cuts might be worse come 2012. “Even with a substantial recovery of the economy over the next two years, we are likely to need to manage within constrained budgets for some period beyond the current two-year funding of the federal stimulus package,” Lombardi said in the e-mail. The full impact of the budget cuts on state higher education would be about $400 million without the stimulus money. While talk of consolidating System institutions is rampant, administrators won’t know exactly what steps to take next until the Legislature decides on a final budget. “What every institution needs to do is preserve its core mission,” said David Manuel, LSU at Alexandria Chancellor. “That’s the only way we can serve the state.” Commissioner of Higher Education Sally Clausen and all four college System presidents met with Jindal and his staff to discuss the budget Friday. With the state’s numerous public colleges and universities, the possibility of consolidation and restructuring will be considered, Clausen said at a Senate Finance Committee meeting in February. The Legislature voted in 2001 to convert LSUA from a two-year institution that granted associate degrees and certificates to a four-year institution that grants bachelor’s degrees. The change required extra funding and, in the face of budget cuts, some want to see LSUA convert back to a two-year institution. Sen. Mike Michot, R-Lafayette,  said recently it could be time to reconsider the 2001 change. “We are absolutely planning on maintaining the campuses,” Zewe said. But some are looking to evaluate all the college systems in Louisiana rather than just some of its parts, an idea Zewe said the System is open to discussing. State House Speaker Jim Tucker, R-Terrytown, said Friday he plans to file a bill to form a commission to examine higher education in Louisiana. With a recession and shrinking budgets affecting colleges and universities, now is the perfect time to ask if Louisiana’s higher education systems are “spread too thin,” Tucker said. “I understand that there’s pain and suffering in the economy, but I’m still convinced the flagship is part of the solution, not the problem,” Martin said. Other System chancellors are also preparing for large budget cuts and hoping for the best.LSU at Eunice Chancellor William Nunez said his campus enrollment has grown nearly 9 percent during the past year and remains a vital fixture in central Louisiana. “We’re fulfilling our role, scope and mission,” Nunez said. “To get kicked in the hiney for doing well is really disappointing.”Under a 20.2 percent reduction, LSUE would face budget cuts of about $1.7 million. Nunez said the System is only as strong as the sum of its parts. He said LSUE is vital to the people of central Louisiana — just as LSU here in Baton Rouge is vital to its residents. “The important thing is to not splinter the System, but improve the System,” Nunez said.——Contact at Kyle Bove at [email protected]