Louisiana colleges, universities present stand-still budget, facing federal funding uncertainty
A. O. Williams Hall on the campus of the Southern University Agricultural Research and Extension Center in Baton Rouge. (Photo courtesy Southern University)
Louisiana college and university leaders have followed Gov. Jeff Landry's direction and presented a proposed budget to lawmakers that would effectively keep their state funding at current levels.
Lawmakers could choose to deviate from the governor's proposed budget, but it is unlikely higher education will get a significant boost beyond the proposed funding.
Landry's budget would decrease state funding for higher education by about $68 million, largely the result of one-time expenses from the previous budget cycle. The proposal also acknowledges an increase in tuition and fee revenue, meaning the overall budget for higher education would increase just over $4 million.
Lawmakers could have had more money to allocate if voters had supported Landry's proposed Amendment Two in the March 29 election. It would have reworked the state's tax structure and moved hundreds of millions of dollars in tax revenue from state savings accounts into Louisiana's general fund, where it could have been more easily spent.
Landry's budget plans come amid uncertainty in federal funding for higher education and other state government entities. As President Donald Trump's administration seeks to shrink government spending, universities are preparing for the possibility of substantially slashed federal research grants.
Under the proposed budget, the Southern University System, the nation's only system of Historically Black Colleges and Universities, would see a budget decrease of about $33 million, primarily from decreased tuition and fee revenue as well as a small dip in state appropriations.
The LSU System would experience a budget increase of about $46 million, driven by a boost in self-generated revenue from record enrollments at its campuses. The University of Louisiana System, which enrolls more students than any other system, would also see a budget increase from raised revenue. Its overall budget would increase about $14 million.
The Louisiana Community and Technical College System would also see a slight boost of $3 million.
When the legislature convenes for its annual session next week, lawmakers will consider what changes they will make to the state budget. Both House and Senate members will get a chance to make adjustments.
In addition to the primary state government operations bill, higher education receives money in the state construction budget and in a supplemental bill that covers a lesser amount of one-time money. Colleges and universities typically receive a substantial chunk of this funding.
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