The University of Kansas is included in Brownback's tour. (Flickr photo by Crazybananas)Governor Sam Brownback will start a tour of the state's universities this week to pitch his funding proposal to lawmakers. Brownback is pushing for mostly level funding for colleges and universities with some targeted increases, but legislators are considering cuts. Brownback has said higher education has a connection to economic growth in Kansas. Here he is speaking to reporters last week.
House and Senate budget negotiators are considering cuts of between 2 percent and 4 percent. A 4 percent cut would equal about $30 million. They’re also looking at cutting millions more in funding for university salaries. Last week, Speaker Ray Merrick said House members are committed to higher education, but they believe there is room for savings.