LSU Public Affairs sent a broadcast e-mail Friday afternoon to highlight two pieces of legislation that might help the University cope with expected budget cuts for fiscal year 2009-10.The first piece is the much talked about Senate Bill 335, which would delay a planned tax break in order to restore $118 million to higher education. The state’s public colleges and universities are expected to take a $219 million funding cut for the fiscal year that starts July 1.LSU is grateful to the local senators and the Baton Rouge Area Chamber for publicly backing SB335, the e-mail stated.The second measure that could help the University is Senate Concurrent Resolution 81, which would withdraw $258 from the state’s rainy day fund. Although only about $80 million could be used for next year, the measure could help, the e-mail read. The e-mail also pointed out some “misinformation” circulating about Louisiana’s higher education budget. “It has been claimed that higher education’s budget has increased substantially in the last three years and that the budget cut is only 3.8 percent,” the email stated. “The truth is that Louisiana higher education went from dead last in funding to the Southern average after 26 years of dwelling in the basement.”According to the e-mail, the budget cut to higher education is 15 percent of state appropriations, which excludes the $55 million mid-year budget cut.”The 3.8 percent figure is [correct] when all possible revenue sources are figured, but as we know, research grants, housing rent, and other restricted sources cannot be used for instruction,” the e-mail read.—-Contact Kyle Bove at [email protected]