LSU System President John Lombardi wrote the state House Appropriations Committee Chairman Eddie Lambert Thursday to express concerns over a proposed 5 percent budget cut for the System’s 2008 – 2009 fiscal year.
“Such cutbacks will send shock waves through our faculty, staff and students statewide,” Lombardi wrote. “For example, progress in achieving LSU A&M’s National Flagship Agenda would be frozen.”
In the letter, Lombardi said he has asked chancellors of System institutions to began considering how to reduce their budgets if the cuts take place. Lombardi said the System will comply with the mandated cuts but asked Lambert to consider the far-reaching implications of the budget cut, which Lombardi said would reduce the System budget by $36.6 million.
“The LSU system has made great strides over the last several years,” Lombardi said. “These collective accomplishments could be quickly negated by this unforeseen reduction in state appropriations.”
Lombardi said a preliminary analysis indicates the budget decrease would “dramatically increase pressure” at the Flagship University to “raise tuition and fees to prevent the loss of LSU’s programs and quality.” This resulting tuition increase would be about a 12 percent raise, or $270 per student per semester.
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Contact Nicholas Persac at [email protected]