From the Governor on Funding of Higher Ed in Colorado

Here is the latest on the Budget/Funding issue in Colorado and how it will affect Higher Education. I’m not only watching this as someone in the system, but also with a son who is entering the College System in the fall. Our household has been a little nervous about what will happen (we’ve already checked out schools in Wyoming as back-up options).  Maybe he’ll be able to stay in Colorado for at least the next two years.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MONDAY, APRIL 13, 2009

CONTACT

Evan Dreyer, 720.350.8370, evan.dreyer@state.co.us

GOV. RITTER: HIGHER EDUCATION FUNDING PROTECTED FROM MASSIVE CUTS

Gov. Bill Ritter said today that massive funding cuts to higher education are not an option because Colorado would forfeit $760 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

In a letter to the legislature’s Joint Budget Committee, Gov. Ritter said new guidelines make it clear that a previous proposal to cut higher education by $300 million would have dropped the state below the $555 million level of FY05-06.

Going below that level would make Colorado ineligible for all $760 million in State Stabilization Funds from the Recovery Act.

“Clearly, it would be counter-productive to cut higher education by $300 million only to lose the entire $760 million in Stabilization Funds,” Gov. Ritter said. “I will continue working with the JBC and the legislature to close the budget gap. This includes ongoing discussions with Pinnacol Assurance and exploring other ways to close the remaining $300 million budget gap.”

Gov. Ritter said the Stabilization Funds will be used to protect higher education funding. In fact, state funding for higher education can be maintained at the original FY 2008-09 level of $706 million for the current 2008-09 fiscal year and for the next two fiscal years by utilizing State Stabilization Funding from the Recovery Act.

“Over the past few months, working in partnership with the JBC and legislative leadership from both parties, we have closed most of the $1.5 billion budget shortfall caused by the downturn,” Gov. Ritter said. “With just a few weeks remaining in the legislative session, we have more work to do to balance the budget, and we will balance this budget.

“As we make the same types of tough decisions that every family and every business is making in this downturn, we must protect long-term investments in education, job-creation and economic-development that will lead Colorado forward and position us for a strong recovery.”

Here is a breakdown of state funding for Colorado’s public colleges and universities in FY08-09:

Institutions of Higher Education
Original FY08-09 General Fund

Adams State College
$ 14,608,449

Mesa State College
$ 24,005,607

Metro. State College of Denver
$ 49,713,412

Western State College
$ 12,173,017

Colorado State University System
$ 146,891,512

Fort Lewis College
$ 12,736,330

University of Colorado System
$ 209,099,449

Colorado School of Mines
$ 23,237,386

University of Northern Colorado
$ 44,086,311

Community College System
$ 142,320,783

Area Vocational Schools
$ 11,202,546

Local District Junior Colleges
$ 15,890,257

TOTAL
$ 705,965,059

Chronology of Gov. Ritter’s Budget-Balancing Actions:

· Sept. 25: Implemented hiring freeze and construction delays.

· Nov. 1: Balanced budget request submitted to the JBC.

· Jan. 15: Revised balanced budget request for FY 08-09 submitted to JBC reflecting December revenue forecast.

· Jan. 27: Revised balanced budget request for FY 09-10 submitted to JBC reflecting December revenue forecast.

· Feb. 24: Revised balanced budget request for FY 08-09 and 09-10 submitted to JBC reflecting new caseload information.

· March 24: Federal Stabilization spending plan submitted to JBC for FY 08-09 through FY 10-11.

· April 10: Revised Federal Stabilization spending plan submitted to JBC for FY 08-09 through FY 10-11 reflecting new federal guidelines.