DENVER - The CSU System could see millions less than suggested by the Colorado Commission on Higher Education if the state's budget committee decides to adopt Gov. Bill Ritter's higher education budget proposal.
Ritter has proposed more than $34 million of higher education's general fund to be allocated to CSU's different institutions throughout the state.
The Colorado Commission on Higher Education more than doubled that, with a request of $71.8 million.
A Colorado State University spokeswoman said the CCHE requests the same budget submitted by CSU.
This year, CSU requested an additional $27 million in funding for mandated costs such as salaries, benefits and facilities management and an additional $37 million to help reach the university's stretch goals, including adding more faculty and increasing access for low-income and minority students.
"This proposed budget is based on reaching those goals and does not take into account unforeseen economic challenges," said Michele McKinney, CSU's Denver-based spokeswoman.
"We outline the budget in order for the Legislature to make informed decisions about what the university will fund with an increase in state support and tuition revenue."
The Colorado Community College System, which includes Front Range Community College, will see a $7.7 million difference if the budget goes toward Ritter's proposal.
"It seems that there is a huge disconnect between what the governor requested and the commission requested," Boulder Rep. Jack Pommer said at Thursday's Joint Budget Committee briefing on higher education funding.
Ritter proposes spending $2.89 billion on all higher education in Colorado, up from $2.77 billion last year. While that represents an increase, it's much smaller than the one higher education got in the previous year.
Legislators and higher education officials have been bracing for a negative forecast for many months. CSU interim President Tony Frank recently eliminated three administrative positions, planning to tuck the $500,000 saved in salaries into a savings fund to "weather bad times."
With the upcoming expiration of Referendum C in 2010, a pause of the Taxpayers' Bill of Rights, higher education will likely take a hit in state funding.
Taxpayer dollars are one of many funding sources for CSU, but they represent a significant portion of the university's approximately $750 million annual budget.
But for now, administrators will have to wait for the final decision from state legislators to see how grim, or good, the outlook for higher education will be next year.
"CSU expects this ebb and flow to occur while budgets are being planned. It's part of the natural course," McKinney said.
Ritter has proposed more than $34 million of higher education's general fund to be allocated to CSU's different institutions throughout the state.
The Colorado Commission on Higher Education more than doubled that, with a request of $71.8 million.
A Colorado State University spokeswoman said the CCHE requests the same budget submitted by CSU.
This year, CSU requested an additional $27 million in funding for mandated costs such as salaries, benefits and facilities management and an additional $37 million to help reach the university's stretch goals, including adding more faculty and increasing access for low-income and minority students.
"This proposed budget is based on reaching those goals and does not take into account unforeseen economic challenges," said Michele McKinney, CSU's Denver-based spokeswoman.
"We outline the budget in order for the Legislature to make informed decisions about what the university will fund with an increase in state support and tuition revenue."
The Colorado Community College System, which includes Front Range Community College, will see a $7.7 million difference if the budget goes toward Ritter's proposal.
"It seems that there is a huge disconnect between what the governor requested and the commission requested," Boulder Rep. Jack Pommer said at Thursday's Joint Budget Committee briefing on higher education funding.
Ritter proposes spending $2.89 billion on all higher education in Colorado, up from $2.77 billion last year. While that represents an increase, it's much smaller than the one higher education got in the previous year.
Legislators and higher education officials have been bracing for a negative forecast for many months. CSU interim President Tony Frank recently eliminated three administrative positions, planning to tuck the $500,000 saved in salaries into a savings fund to "weather bad times."
With the upcoming expiration of Referendum C in 2010, a pause of the Taxpayers' Bill of Rights, higher education will likely take a hit in state funding.
Taxpayer dollars are one of many funding sources for CSU, but they represent a significant portion of the university's approximately $750 million annual budget.
But for now, administrators will have to wait for the final decision from state legislators to see how grim, or good, the outlook for higher education will be next year.
"CSU expects this ebb and flow to occur while budgets are being planned. It's part of the natural course," McKinney said.
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