Layoffs, furloughs, tuition increases, larger class sizes and a decrease in state economic development are just a few of the effects large-scale budget cuts would have on each of the four college systems and Louisiana itself, Commissioner of Higher Education Sally Clausen told members of the House Appropriations Committee today.
“Everything is on the table,” Clasen said. “We have nothing that can possibly be considered sacred under these circumstances.”
Clausen, the four public college system presidents and various other higher education leaders presented their 2009-10 budgets to the House Appropriations Committee today, beginning a conversation that will carry over to the Legislature’s session which starts April 27.
The University is expected to take a nearly $50 million reduction in state funding for the fiscal year beginning July 1.
Gov. Bobby Jindal’s proposed state spending budget has higher education taking a $219 million reduction, on top of the now permanent $55 million mid-year cut, to help make up for slacking state revenue.
LSU System President John Lombardi and Chancellor Michael Martin were in attendance and expressed their concerns about the budget, echoing the same concerns as Clausen. The LSU System as a whole would be cut by about $102 million under the governor’s proposed budget.—-Contact Kyle Bove at [email protected]