Topeka ? Despite pumping an additional $18 million into the state’s higher education system, Gov. Kathleen Sebelius’ proposed budget would leave university administrators to cut about 2 percent out of their budgets, officials said Tuesday.

That’s because the increase won’t cover the cost of projected health insurance increases and mandated salary increases.

“It doesn’t look like we’ll have any more money than we do now,” said David Shulenburger, provost and executive vice chancellor at Kansas University. “That kind of realignment of funds isn’t useful right now. We’ll have to go back and find ways to save more money.”

The Kansas Board of Regents discussed the budget proposal at its meeting Tuesday. Marvin Burris, vice president for finance and administration, said the budget situation was complicated enough he didn’t have sure answers about whether higher education would see more or less money next year under the governor’s recommendation, which was released Monday.

“It’s just a complicated problem, trying to figure it all out,” said Regent Frank Gaines of Hamilton.

Part of the confusion came because Sebelius’ budget includes $27 million in administrative “efficiencies” — mainly in the areas of purchasing and information technology — that will be identified later this year by her Budget Efficiency Savings Teams (BEST). The cuts include $3.2 million at KU’s main campus and $1.9 million at the KU Medical Center.

The money will be used to fund a 3 percent salary increase for state employees.

But Shulenburger said he didn’t know where the money would come from, considering KU already has seen an $18.8 million cut in the 2002-2003 year, and absorbed an additional $3.7 million in unfunded increases this year.

Sebelius’ budget includes $8.9 million in money promised in 1999 when the state’s higher education system was reorganized. About $3.3 million will go to faculty salaries.

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It also includes $1 million for student loans and $1 million for technical schools and colleges.

Regents said they wanted to have a complete report on the budget before determining how to handle lobbying this legislative session.

“We’re doing a lot of analysis,” said Regent Bill Docking of Arkansas City. “If we really are down 2 percent, we need to have that well-documented.”

KU Chancellor Robert Hemenway said he was hoping to have a better idea of where the university could stand in a few weeks.

“We do this every year,” he said. “The governor gives the State of the State speech, and we scramble for a week or two to figure out what it means.”