After dodging a budget bullet during the recent special session of the Legislature, leaders of the state's higher education institutions are bracing for what may be another challenging legislative session starting in January.
"Everything I hear tells me to expect very difficult debate in the '06 session for the '07 budget," said Reggie Robinson, president and chief executive officer of the Kansas Board of Regents.
Robinson and other college and university leaders are meeting this week at the Circle S Ranch north of Lawrence in their annual retreat. The meetings began Tuesday and end today.
The outlook for the upcoming session is one of the key discussion topics. When the Legislature returned in June to deal with a court order for more spending for K-12 education, some members supported cutting other agencies - including higher education - but that proposal failed.
With the need for a long-term solution for K-12 funding on the horizon, the prospects for large increases to colleges and universities may be slim.
Robinson said two other hot-button legislative topics may take a significant portion of regents' time during the session:
¢ The Taxpayer Bill of Rights, which would restrict government spending and require voter approval of tax increases. The legislation could limit spending on higher education.
¢ Restrictions on stem cell research. A bill introduced last session would have limited projects involving stem cells, and Robinson said the bill may be introduced again.
Donna Shank of Liberal, who will chair the regents for the next year, said she hoped a theme in the next year would be talking about "efficiencies" at the state's universities. She said telling the public and legislators about cuts and streamlining could ensure future funding.
Chancellor Robert Hemenway said the list for Kansas University would include closing Printing Services and the Anthropology Museum, as well as securing a AA bonding rating, which secures lower interest rates to save money over time.
He said with budget cuts from the state, universities have been forced to be efficient.
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