Published: November 08, 2009 09:54 pm         

Colleges are hoping for an unlikely budget increase

We have to wonder what motives Oklahoma State Regents had when they voted last week to seek a budget increase for next fiscal year.

The governing body of the state’s 25 public colleges and universities approved a budget request of nearly $1.1 billion for the 2011 fiscal year, an increase of $27.5 million over the current fiscal year’s budget. Members also voted to request $35.8 million to make up for budget cuts this year.

Their reasoning for a budget increase is the state needs college graduates to be competitive economically. They also recited the same things other state agency leaders have said. Colleges and universities have instituted hiring freezes. They have cut back on travel expenses and, in some cases, moved to a four-day work week. One school, Redlands Community College, has had to furlough employees to make up for budget cuts all agencies have had to make.

Maybe regents are requesting extra money and hope by doing so when it comes time for lawmakers to write the budget, they will get the same amount as this year and won’t have to accept a budget cut.

Maybe they are using this request as a bargaining tool. Give us more money and we won’t raise tuition, much as they did before the current budget was written.

Given the outlook for state revenues, the chance of getting an increase seems pretty slim to us.

Many state officials have speculated next fiscal year may be worse than the current one.

The regents’ request is looking a lot like asking Santa Claus for a pony. Don’t expect it to happen.