LITTLE ROCK -- An Arkansas lawmaker on Tuesday proposed cutting college and university funding by up to $14.6 million, an idea that faced opposition from the governor and the chairmen of the Legislature's budget committee.
Republican Sen. Bart Hester said he'll propose reducing funding for higher education by 1 or 2 percent in the coming fiscal year, arguing the savings could be used to pay for additional tax cuts or other state needs.
"I'm sure many of you have things that you think ought to be funded, and I think we're about to realize very quickly there's no money for the things we want," Hester told members of the Joint Budget Committee.
Hester's proposal comes as Gov. Asa Hutchinson and legislative leaders begin work on legislation detailing the state's budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1. Hutchinson, who took office in January, has proposed keeping higher education funding flat. He's called for boosting funding for public schools, Medicaid and prisons, while most other state agencies would see a 1 percent cut.
Hutchinson told reporters he was committed to not cutting higher education funding.
"I said I would present a budget that had consistent funding and not reduce funding for higher education," Hutchinson told reporters. "That's what my balanced budget has presented, and I'm hopeful we will maintain consistent with that."
Lawmakers, however, have floated the possibility of pushing for more tax cuts beyond a $102 million reduction in individual income taxes that was signed into law last month.
Republican Rep. Lane Jean and Democratic Sen. Larry Teague said they opposed any cuts to higher education funding and said they didn't see the proposal gaining much traction.
"I think it's a talking a point. It's a valid talking point," Jean told reporters. "Good discussion, but I don't see it getting any wings."
Another lawmaker on the panel also questioned the appearance of the Legislature considering such a cut a day after an independent commission approved giving lawmakers a 146 percent pay raise.
"Symbolically, it does not look right for us to be even proposing this," Republican Rep. John Walker said.
State Desk on 03/18/2015