Higher Ed Face 15% Cuts

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal’s executive budget for fiscal 2010 will include $219 million in cuts for higher education, or more than 15% from appropriations for state schools in fiscal 2009.

The reduction in funding, which was outlined to state college officials by the administration last week, would have been 30% without the $219 million that Louisiana will be receiving in federal stimulus funds for higher education. The identical numbers are a coincidence, state officials said.

Jindal’s executive budget is to be presented to the Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget on Friday.

Louisiana state colleges and universities received $1.4 billion from the state in fiscal 2009, which accounts for about 60% of school budgets.

In December, Louisiana higher education institutions were asked to prepare for a cut in their fiscal 2009 budgets of $109 million, but actual cuts totaled only $55 million.

The state Office of Planning and Budget said in January that Louisiana schools could expect between $212 million to $382 million in possible cuts in fiscal 2010.

Louisiana’s fiscal year will begin July 1.

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