What a $169m cut to higher ed means

Majority Leader Horsford's office has analyzed, and the LV Sun has reported, what the proposed $169 million cut to Higher Education would mean, in practical terms:

Proposed Higher Ed Cuts Recap

• Current annual state support of the Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE) would be reduced $162 million in the 2012-2013 fiscal year, from $558 million in the current fiscal year to $395 million in the 2012-2013 fiscal year – 29 percent. It would be reduced $91 million from $558 million to $467 million in the upcoming 2011-2012 fiscal year – 16.3 percent.

A $162 million reduction in funding is equivalent to:

• Combined annual state support for the University of Nevada, Reno, and the Desert Research Institute, or

• Total funding for the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, or

• Funding for all four community colleges, or

• Layoffs of about 2,000 employees.

• The governor is anticipating that some of the higher education budget cuts would be offset by tuition increases imposed by the Board of Regents. To offset a $162 million reduction in state spending, tuition and fees would need to increase 73 percent – or 83% if 15 percent of the tuition increases were set aside for financial aid, as the governor proposed.

• Governor Sandoval’s proposed higher education budget cuts would be on top of reductions of 36 to 42 percent cuts imposed at universities and community colleges since 2009, resulting in a 9 percent reduction in staff, larger classes, lack of access to classes, and students taking longer to graduate.