The Battle Over Higher Ed's Budget Begins

The real battle over Louisiana's higher education budget begins in the coming week when Gov. Bobby Jindal releases his proposed budget (due on Friday, March 13). According to a story in today's Times-Picayune, Jindal will probably propose a 15 percent cut in higher education. That's about half of what he likely would have proposed without federal stimulus funds -- which he opposed and said he would have voted against.

Now the battle begins to persuade Jindal and the Legislature to take further steps to make that 15 percent cut even smaller.

Options: they can set priorities that protect higher education (yes, they do have some leeway, despite what you hear in the press); they can tap into some large, existing funds that haven't been spent or are proposed for increases (a $400 economic development fund that Jindal & Co. reportedly want to increase by an additional $400 million); or they can tap into the state's rainy day fund to close the gap.

Any of these options, or a combination of some or all, could save Louisiana higher education from crippling budget cuts.