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Brownback To Visit Kansas Universities

Kansas 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 says higher education has a connection to economic growth in Kansas. 

“So what I want to do is to put out the full vision here," says Brownback.  "The total number of students we have in higher education, which is a large number, the need for stable funding, the amount that higher ed has been cut over time since the downturn.”

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.

The Governor is tentatively scheduled to visit the following campuses:

  • April 22 - Wichita State University and Butler Community College    
  • April 23 – Washburn University
  • April 24 – Pittsburg State University
  • April 25 – University of Kansas School of Medicine
  • April 25 - Kansas City Kansas Community College
  • April 26 – Emporia State University
  • May 6 – Kansas State University
  • May 7 – Fort Hays State University
  • May 7 – University of Kansas School of Medicine - Salina
As the Kansas News Service managing editor, I help our statewide team of reporters find the important issues and breaking news that impact people statewide. We refine our daily stories to illustrate the issues and events that affect the health, well-being and economic stability of the people of Kansas. Email me at skoranda@kcur.org.
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