Governor says university asking for moon

Tue, Aug 12, 2008 (12:09 p.m.)

Gibbons trying to muzzle Rogers? No way, adviser, regents say (7-20-2008)
Budget crisis has UNLV slashing staff (6-30-2008)
Chancellor asks the governor for a budget sit-down (6-3-2008)

CARSON CITY – Gov. Jim Gibbons says the university regents are “asking for the moon” in their request to increase the system budget by 10 percent, rather than abiding by his directive to lower spending by 14 percent in the coming two years.

“I do not see the reality of being able to meet the increased request of higher education at this time,” Gibbons said today.

“If things turn around we can do more but things will depend on the economy,” he said.

The regents, at its meeting last week, agreed to seek a 10 percent increase to the $1.3 billion state budget approved in 2007. They said they needed these enhancements to provide a quality education.

At the same time, the state Board of Education complied Friday with the demands of the governor to slash the school support budget by 14.2 percent.

The public schools and the Nevada System of Higher Education received 54.5 percent of the state’s general fund from the 2007 Legislature.

Gibbons said his budget office will have to shave the request of the university. But he says he’s willing to work with the university and the public school officials in seeing if some of their higher priorities might be met.

“If things turn around we can do more but things will depend on the economy,” the governor said. He’s bound by the predictions made by the Economic Forum on how much tax money will be coming in during the next two fiscal years.

“I cannot spend the state into debt nor would I want to,” Gibbons said.

The education board decided there would be no cost of living raises for K-12 teachers in each of the next two fiscal years; the $2,000 signing bonuses for new teachers would be abolished and the extra benefits for teaching in high risk schools would be ended.

The budget approved by the education board enlarges the size of the first through third grades by one student and cuts in half the money to allocate for textbooks. It also cancels some programs in the schools.

Gibbons said the education board “sees the reality of what we are dealing with --- an economy that doesn’t support what we had in the past.

“No one likes to face budget reductions but at least I give the K through 12 and the (state) Department of Education credit for trying to deal with the reality of having lower-than-expected revenues,” the governor said.

The elective board of education doesn’t “have an alternative. They cannot raise tuition to meet some of their expenses. They are pretty much limited by statute, by law and the Economic Forum,” he said.

University Chancellor Jim Rogers today released letters from Clark County School Superintendent Walt Rulffes and Washoe County School Superintendent Paul Dugan written prior to the decisions of the state Board of Education to cut the future budget.

Rulffes said in his July 31st letter that Clark County’s per pupil funding is already close to last in the nation. He said the reductions already made and the ones to come “will be eroding essential services for students, which I fully expected to become evident in the achievement level of our students.”

With these past reductions and the expected future cuts, Rulffes said the district can’t do “a decent job for students” and improve the students who are going to the Nevada System of Higher Education.

Dugan, in his Aug. 4 letter to Rogers, said that a 14 percent cut in state educational funding will ensure that Nevada is last in the nation in financing public schools.

Cy Ryan may be reached at (775) 687 5032 or cy@lasvegassun.com

Discussion: 8 comments so far…

By true_rebel_fan

8/12/08 at 12:18 p.m.

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get this governor out of office. what a bum. this is why when you have a degree you can't get a job in our state. let's run off the over-achievers, huh? what an ass
By jfnance32

8/12/08 at 12:32 p.m.

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I think it is time to get new Regents.
By thebs

8/12/08 at 12:53 p.m.

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The Board did not take final action on the budget (that comes later this month), and the request for enhancements were debated pretty thoroughly, with lots of back-and-forth between Gallagher/Geddes and Crear/Leavitt.

Funny, this "article" doesn't mention any of that.
By jfnance32

8/12/08 at 1:06 p.m.

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Thanks for the news....theBS....to bad the Sun did not find those facts as needed.

I think those facts are relevant.

I smell a plan by Rogers to get the Regents or someone to file a lawsuit against the state for the lack of funding.
By Fccfirstclass

8/13/08 at 4:47 a.m.

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Gibbons is a pin head who could not think his way out of a papaer bag unless there is a bimbo underneath it. His actions are killing the education path in this state that will take 50 or more years to reverse. Higher Education in Nevada will be equated to K-8 in California, Washington or Oregon.
By azsk8fan

8/13/08 at 6:37 a.m.

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Maybe if the universities didn't spend thousands of dollars on desks they'd have a little more money to use in all the RIGHT places.
By nvnatv

8/13/08 at 7:59 a.m.

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Could someone PLEASE explain to me why the Universities are continuing football programs that (1) drain the general fund and (2) add nothing to the academics that are the reason for the universities' existence? I have not read anything about either UNR or UNLV cutting their athletic department budgets.
By UNLVStud

8/13/08 at 1:20 p.m.

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The Luv Guv has zero leadership skills. Education should always be looked at as an asset especially in these harsh economic times. Education is the key to success. The Luv Guv needs to man up and look for solutions to this crisis besides asking K-16 to fall to the very bottom of the bad lists.

Further, getting rid of vital programs makes our quality of life go down. We need doctors, nurses, teachers, and other professionals to keep this State from falling back to the dark ages. If the State wants economic prosperity, it has to invest in education at all levels. An educated people will find creative solutions to any problem. (I would encourage the Luv Guv to seek a degree in economics.)

As for the sports programs, they are vital to the college experience. However, to my knowledge, only UNLV basketball is self supporting. All other programs across the state from the baseball teams at the community colleges to the women's soccer team at the universities all run off of state support. Title IX mandates that if we offer a great self-supporting program like mens basketball, the schools must also provide for womens sports.

Also, these programs are what students expect as part of their education. It is a way to show pride and support for their school. (It is also a way for the community to get involved.) Hopefully, when those graduates become successful, they will look fondly on their college experience and will continue to support the university by donating to it.