University budget faces cuts - Lauren Cunningham, Megan Morriss, Jesse Rangel, Daily Kansan

In the last 10 years, the University’s budget has weathered state budget shortfalls, a period of steady growth and a recession. The $132.8 million dollars of support to the University from the state Legislature was cut in fiscal years 2003 and 2004, bottoming out at $129.4 million. A four-year period of increases followed, and the recession has cut the budget to 2006 levels. Kathy Damron, director of state relations for the University, said the state was making steady increases in higher education spending until the recession, which started last year. “It’s all about the economic downturn, Damron said. “The world just changed as we know it last September.”