Agencies analyze impact of budget cuts - Ben Fitch, Emporia Gazette

The budget is $66 million below what Gov. Sam Brownback proposed in January, and there were significant cuts, especially to higher education: around $56 million over the next two years. ESU president Michael Shonrock was unavailable for comment regarding how the university will be affected by the cuts. It is certain, however, that the university will feel an impact, especially in consideration of a salary-cap measure that passed in the House of Representatives along with the budget. The measure alone could cost ESU $1.5 million. “It was the decision of the appropriations committee in the House to make those cuts,” Mast said. “They did restore some of those in negotiations when they met with the Senate, and it was cuts that I felt were painful, yet it was the decision of the appropriations committee, and it did pass a majority in the House.” http://www.emporiagazette.com/news/article_2fec5446-cdfb-11e2-9f72-10604b9f6eda.html