KU officials say plan step in right direction

By Erwin Seba     Jan 16, 2002

? Kansas University officials on Tuesday applauded Gov. Bill Graves’ proposal to restore funds for higher education, saying that cuts envisioned in a no-new-taxes budget would cause serious harm.

“This original budget contained the largest cuts ever proposed for higher education in Kansas,” KU Chancellor Robert Hemenway said. He said the proposed cuts, if enacted, would have “set back Kansas higher education for years.”

Though Graves took “positive and responsible steps,” Hemenway said he remained concerned about the budget situation.

Graves called for a $228 million tax increase on Monday, the opening day of the 2002 legislative session. The increase, he said, was necessary to restore many of the proposed cuts he said would be needed within a no-new-taxes plan.

Graves’ tax package would raise the state sales tax a quarter of a cent, the motor fuels tax by 1 cent per gallon and the tax on a pack of cigarettes by 65 cents.

Graves said that without the tax increases, the state would be forced to make drastic cuts in education, welfare and highways.

In the no-new-taxes budget, Graves said higher education would be cut $27 million, or about 4 percent. Of that amount, KU and Kansas University Medical Center would have been cut $9.6 million.

But Hemenway said the reduction would actually be greater because Graves did not take into account paying for continuation of a mid-year salary increase and increased health insurance costs. Factoring those costs would make the cut about $15.4 million, he said.

A reduction in per-student state revenue to KU and other regents schools is one of the main reasons that the schools are considering five-year plans to raise tuition. The size of those tuition increases have not been decided yet, according to KU officials.

Graves and key lawmakers have said there would not be enough funds this year to pay for higher education reforms promised in 1999. That will short universities, community colleges and technical schools about $45 million.

KU officials say plan step in right direction

By Erwin Seba     Jan 16, 2002

? Kansas University officials on Tuesday applauded Gov. Bill Graves’ proposal to restore funds for higher education, saying that cuts envisioned in a no-new-taxes budget would cause serious harm.

“This original budget contained the largest cuts ever proposed for higher education in Kansas,” KU Chancellor Robert Hemenway said. He said the proposed cuts, if enacted, would have “set back Kansas higher education for years.”

Though Graves took “positive and responsible steps,” Hemenway said he remained concerned about the budget situation.

Graves called for a $228 million tax increase on Monday, the opening day of the 2002 legislative session. The increase, he said, was necessary to restore many of the proposed cuts he said would be needed within a no-new-taxes plan.

Graves’ tax package would raise the state sales tax a quarter of a cent, the motor fuels tax by 1 cent per gallon and the tax on a pack of cigarettes by 65 cents.

Graves said that without the tax increases, the state would be forced to make drastic cuts in education, welfare and highways.

In the no-new-taxes budget, Graves said higher education would be cut $27 million, or about 4 percent. Of that amount, KU and Kansas University Medical Center would have been cut $9.6 million.

But Hemenway said the reduction would actually be greater because Graves did not take into account paying for continuation of a mid-year salary increase and increased health insurance costs. Factoring those costs would make the cut about $15.4 million, he said.

A reduction in per-student state revenue to KU and other regents schools is one of the main reasons that the schools are considering five-year plans to raise tuition. The size of those tuition increases have not been decided yet, according to KU officials.

Graves and key lawmakers have said there would not be enough funds this year to pay for higher education reforms promised in 1999. That will short universities, community colleges and technical schools about $45 million.

KU officials say plan step in right direction

By Erwin Seba     Jan 16, 2002

? Kansas University officials on Tuesday applauded Gov. Bill Graves’ proposal to restore funds for higher education, saying that cuts envisioned in a no-new-taxes budget would cause serious harm.

“This original budget contained the largest cuts ever proposed for higher education in Kansas,” KU Chancellor Robert Hemenway said. He said the proposed cuts, if enacted, would have “set back Kansas higher education for years.”

Though Graves took “positive and responsible steps,” Hemenway said he remained concerned about the budget situation.

Graves called for a $228 million tax increase on Monday, the opening day of the 2002 legislative session. The increase, he said, was necessary to restore many of the proposed cuts he said would be needed within a no-new-taxes plan.

Graves’ tax package would raise the state sales tax a quarter of a cent, the motor fuels tax by 1 cent per gallon and the tax on a pack of cigarettes by 65 cents.

Graves said that without the tax increases, the state would be forced to make drastic cuts in education, welfare and highways.

In the no-new-taxes budget, Graves said higher education would be cut $27 million, or about 4 percent. Of that amount, KU and Kansas University Medical Center would have been cut $9.6 million.

But Hemenway said the reduction would actually be greater because Graves did not take into account paying for continuation of a mid-year salary increase and increased health insurance costs. Factoring those costs would make the cut about $15.4 million, he said.

A reduction in per-student state revenue to KU and other regents schools is one of the main reasons that the schools are considering five-year plans to raise tuition. The size of those tuition increases have not been decided yet, according to KU officials.

Graves and key lawmakers have said there would not be enough funds this year to pay for higher education reforms promised in 1999. That will short universities, community colleges and technical schools about $45 million.

KU officials say plan step in right direction

By Erwin Seba     Jan 16, 2002

? Kansas University officials on Tuesday applauded Gov. Bill Graves’ proposal to restore funds for higher education, saying that cuts envisioned in a no-new-taxes budget would cause serious harm.

“This original budget contained the largest cuts ever proposed for higher education in Kansas,” KU Chancellor Robert Hemenway said. He said the proposed cuts, if enacted, would have “set back Kansas higher education for years.”

Though Graves took “positive and responsible steps,” Hemenway said he remained concerned about the budget situation.

Graves called for a $228 million tax increase on Monday, the opening day of the 2002 legislative session. The increase, he said, was necessary to restore many of the proposed cuts he said would be needed within a no-new-taxes plan.

Graves’ tax package would raise the state sales tax a quarter of a cent, the motor fuels tax by 1 cent per gallon and the tax on a pack of cigarettes by 65 cents.

Graves said that without the tax increases, the state would be forced to make drastic cuts in education, welfare and highways.

In the no-new-taxes budget, Graves said higher education would be cut $27 million, or about 4 percent. Of that amount, KU and Kansas University Medical Center would have been cut $9.6 million.

But Hemenway said the reduction would actually be greater because Graves did not take into account paying for continuation of a mid-year salary increase and increased health insurance costs. Factoring those costs would make the cut about $15.4 million, he said.

A reduction in per-student state revenue to KU and other regents schools is one of the main reasons that the schools are considering five-year plans to raise tuition. The size of those tuition increases have not been decided yet, according to KU officials.

Graves and key lawmakers have said there would not be enough funds this year to pay for higher education reforms promised in 1999. That will short universities, community colleges and technical schools about $45 million.

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