University of Louisiana at Monroe group opposes education cuts - News Star

Members of the University of Louisiana Alumni Association announced Monday the organization's objections to the state's proposed higher education budget cuts for fiscal year 2009-10. The association outlined several reasons for the opposition in a resolution to state legislators, which indicated that budget cuts of the magnitude projected will accelerate the region's economic woes and exacerbate the area's "brain drain." If the proposed state appropriation reductions are adopted, ULM's cuts would exceed $8.1 million, bringing total cuts of more than $10 million to the university after it was forced to adopt mid-year cuts exceeding $2.370 million, according to a statement accompanying the resolution. Funding for mandatory costs increases of $1.4 million is not provided in the appropriations.