State Sen. Ty Masterson, R-Andover, (left) who is chair of the Senate Ways and Means Committee, and state Rep. Marc Rhoades, R-Newton, chair of the House Appropriations Committee, start conference committee negotiations on the state budget.

Topeka — The House and Senate budget conference committee today started negotiations and the House stood by its proposal to cut higher education funding by 4 percent.

The reduction would mean a nearly $10 million cut to Kansas University.

The Senate has proposed a 2 percent cut.

While the Senate plan has a smaller cut, it also reduces the state’s student financial assistance programs by $437,832. The House plan doesn’t cut those programs.

The House and Senate also differ on proposals to fund a medical education building at KU Medical Center.

The House agrees with Gov. Sam Brownback’s plan to provide $3 million in the next fiscal year to jump start construction of the building. The Senate plan would allow KU to use funds for the project that are generally allocated to take care of deferred maintenance and repairs on university buildings and facilities.