We have to give state Regents for Higher Education an "A" for effort and an "O" for optimism this week. The nine-member board is asking the legislature for a $27.5 million increase over last year's budget for fiscal year 2011.
That increase is a fraction of the agency's $1.1 billion budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1. Regents also want another $35.8 million to make up for this year's cuts and $68.7 million in federal stimulus money, the same amount of stimulus money received this year.
Unless state revenues turn around dramatically before the sessions opens in February, we look for a lean year for all agencies. Asking for an increase in a time when all state agencies are being asked to operate on 5 percent less each month for the rest of this fiscal year is, well, rather optimistic.
Regents chairman William Stuart Price said "We need more students and more college degrees for a stronger, more competitive Oklahoma. Now is not the moment to slow down. Now is the time to accelerate and push forward."
Higher education, in Norman and in communities throughout the state, is an economic engine that drives much commerce. Cutting back on appropriations forces the university to tighten its belt, hold back on some programs and reduce or freeze hiring.
We agree that increasing the number of college graduates will make Oklahoma competitive. The University of Oklahoma has raised its graduate rate significantly in the past decade. But our state's colleges and universities as a whole have relatively low graduation rates and just adding money to budgets won't fix that.
Opinion
Regents are optimistic in a tight budget year
- Opinion
-
-
Another Library Vote? Good grief!
Editor, The Transcript A new library on the west side? With hardly any books? With a dumb name above the entry as shown in your rendering? Infoplace? The library bureaucracy must think Norman voters just fell off the turnip truck....
-
Show them some love
Oklahoma joins bus drivers and riders throughout the nation in the “Love the Bus” campaign to raise awareness and appreciation for the thousands of school bus drivers and aides who safely transport children to and from school each day....
-
Eliminating state taxes places burden on poor
Editor, The Transcript: Your editorial on Feb. 8th that expressed your pleasure that the bill by Jim Wilson that would have removed the sales tax exemptions from newspapers was killed in committee was disconcerting. I can agree that the ...
-
Not time to experiment with state taxes
Editor, The Transcript Governor Fallin proposed more cuts to the state income tax in her State of the State speech Feb. 6. This comes on the heels of a House Tax Reform Task Force that also proposed phasing out the state income tax over a ...
-
Cuts in mental health short-sighted at best
When state budgets tightened up three legislative sessions ago, mental health and substance abuse treatment appropriations amounted to low-hanging fruit. It was easy for lawmakers to reduce treatment for mental health consumers and ...
-
Local investment is better for Norman
Editor, The Transcript Americans from all walks of life and political ideologies are asserting their voice to tell Wall Street “Enough is enough!” Occupy Norman members spoke at the Dec. 13 Norman City Council meeting, urging the city to ...
-
Decline in unions harmful to economy
Editor, The Transcript Remember sometimes you get what your ask for? Let’s see, what could that be? I know, destroy those evil unions which are compromised of the middle class....
-
Tobacco ban comes as shock
Gov. Mary Fallin’s State of the State contained few surprises. The tobacco ban, however, came as a total shock to many legislators and state agency heads. “It was a surprise,” the governor told state press association members this week at ...
-
‘Flavor of the month’
State Republicans have invited all of the GOP presidential candidates to Oklahoma. Former candidate Herman Cain came to Oklahoma City in early December, just days after he suspended his campaign. Rick Santorum brought his charged-up ...
-
Gov. Fallin says tax cuts bring national attention
Rating agencies are often courted by state, county and local officials seeking better ratings and thus lower interest costs on long-term debt financed through bonds. Oklahoma’s governor and other officials called on various agencies this ...
- More Opinion Headlines
-
Another Library Vote? Good grief!
