Chancellor digs heels in over university budget - Geoff Dornan, Nevada Appeal

The Nevada System of Higher Education has put together its proposed budget without the 10 percent general fund cuts sought by Gov. Jim Gibbons. But the budget does include elimination of the furloughs applied this biennium and restoration of classified salary step increases, longevity pay and professional merit pay within the system. As a result, the total proposed budget request that will be presented to the Board of Regents Aug. 27 is 3.2 percent higher than the current budget, most of the increase coming in state funding. “The Board of Regents, the chancellor and the presidents have an obligation to honestly tell the state of Nevada what is required for higher education to serve the people of Nevada,” said Chancellor Dan Klaich. “We cannot keep cutting our budget and expect us to help pull the state out of this economic tailspin.”