Topeka ? Student leaders from state universities lobbied Monday against Gov. Kathleen Sebelius’ proposed method of funding raises for state workers.

Sebelius has asked agencies to save a total $53 million, through reduced purchases and lower spending on computer equipment, to provide state employees a 3 percent raise.

The universities’ share would come to $12.5 million of the $1.79 billion budget proposed for higher education in the next fiscal year.

About 50 student leaders joined the universities’ student body presidents at the Statehouse to express opposition.

John O’Hara, student body president at Kansas State University, said he doubted the universities could find the required savings. His counterpart at Fort Hays State, Mitchell Hall, worried about setting a precedent with the proposed diversion of tuition and fees from universities’ operations to general government.

“There will probably be no end in sight,” Hall said.

State Budget Director Duane Goossen defended the governor’s recommendations, saying Sebelius was concentrating on a big fiscal picture.

“The salary increase doesn’t work without finding some sort of money from within the state budget,” he said.