Topeka ? Higher education advocates Wednesday warned that while tax cuts are politically popular, they could harm the state’s higher education system.

“Tax reductions and economic downturns will be particularly difficult for higher education,” Bill Taylor, a member of Citizens for Higher Education, told the Kansas Board of Regents.

The group issued a report that showed state funding for college students has decreased at all Big 12 schools as tuition has soared.

In 2001, state funding per student was $6,328 in Kansas. That dropped to $6,016 in 2005, the report said. Some schools in the Big 12 saw even steeper declines. Oklahoma per-student funding was $9,128 in 2001, and fell to $7,252 in 2005.

The report also showed Kansas’ tax structure produces wide swings of revenue – depending on the health of the economy.

“Things are good right now, but when the next economic downturn occurs, higher education could be in the cross hairs as the state fights to balance its budget,” Taylor said.

Bill Hall, chairman of the group, said states cut higher education at their own peril. Kansas University Chancellor Robert Hemenway agreed.

“When you disinvest in higher education, you’re basically saying that we don’t have enough confidence in the brain power of our young people,” he said.

Tuition at KU increased by $2,669 for in-state students in the past four years and was up 13.7 percent in the last year alone.

The Legislature is considering a number of tax cuts, as universities are seeking about $660 million for building repairs and maintenance.