State universities could see $390M budget cut - Associated Press

Key Arizona legislators identified possible budget cut options Thursday that could approach approximately $390 million for the statewide university system. A figure of that magnitude would be double the $191.5 million in cuts recently instituted for Arizona State University, the University of Arizona and Northern Arizona by the Legislature for the current fiscal year. Those reductions, from a total of $1.13 billion appropriated for the universities, helped eliminate the state's $1.6 billion budget shortfall brought on by the crumbling economy. The universities also get money from tuition and federal grants. State Board of Regents President Fred Boice told legislators at a hearing in Phoenix that possible new cuts would ``cause severe damage.''