Topeka ? House Republicans today voted to cut higher education funding and delay a state pay raise, according to Gov. Kathleen Sebelius’ administration and the Kansas Board of Regents.

The House gave final approval, 67-55, for the budget. Only Republicans voted for the measure, all Democrats and a group of moderate Republicans voted against the budget.

Earlier story

During debate Thursday, sponsors of the House budget repeatedly said that their reductions in the budget from Gov. Kathleen Sebelius’ proposal would still result in public universities getting more funding during the fiscal year that starts July 1 than they are now getting.

But Sebelius’ administration and regents officials today said that was not true. The regents issued a statement that showed under the House-approved budget, universities would get a decrease in funding.

The decrease amounts to nearly $2.3 million, from $563.7 million under current appropriations to $561.4 million for the next fiscal year.

“We are profoundly disappointed by this action,” Reginald Robinson, president and chief executive of the regents, said.

The House budget would also delay Sebelius’ proposed 2.5 percent state employee pay raise from taking effect July 1 until March, 2006.

The budget now goes to the Senate for consideration. Senate leaders have said they oppose the cuts to higher education and delaying the state employee pay raise.

For more on this story, see the 6News reports at 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. on Sunflower Broadband’s Channel 6 and pick up a copy of Saturday’s Journal-World.