Panel asked for bottom line on higher education funding

CARSON CITY -- Chancellor Jim Rogers urged legislators Friday to tell him the exact figure at which they will fund the Nevada System of Higher Education, not just offer more guesses on how much money will be available.

"Tell us that this is the maximum amount in the pot," Rogers told a joint Senate-Assembly budget committee. "We want a fair shake. A 36 percent cut isn't fair and doesn't work."

In his proposed two-year budget for higher education, Gov. Jim Gibbons calls for 36 percent cuts, or $473 million. He contended the Board of Regents could raise tuition if additional funds are needed.

Getting Rogers an answer now is impossible since Democratic legislators do not intend until late next month to announce whether they will propose tax increases to cover perceived shortfalls in Gibbons' budget.

But they assured Rogers the cuts on higher education will not be as severe as the governor proposed.

"The system cannot withstand a 36 percent cut," said Assembly Speaker Barbara Buckley, D-Las Vegas. "That cut has to be reduced dramatically or we won't have a system of higher education. We would like not to have any cuts, but it is just not possible with the economic situation affecting our state."

Buckley asked Rogers to submit a spending priority and cut list to the committee since reductions must be made.

Other state agencies also have been asked by the committee to prepare their spending priority and cut lists.

Rogers said he would not release a cut list in writing, contending it would hurt morale of faculty members who could be affected.

But he said Vice Chancellor Dan Klaich would work with legislative staff members on cuts.

"We aren't trying to hide information, but we are sensitive," Rogers said.

"We don't want a run on the house. If we start talking about (eliminating) a department, pretty soon everything falls apart."

"At earlier hearings, Klaich said that 2,000 to 2,200 faculty and support workers would have to be laid off it Gibbons' proposed budget receives legislative approval.

Rogers said a 5 percent cut for higher education is "right," since it is more in line with the cuts affecting other parts of state government.

Contact Capital Bureau Chief Ed Vogel at evogel@reviewjournal.com or 775-687-3901.