Midlands Voices: NU program cuts aren't necessary - Steve Erdman, Nebraska State Representative

The fact of the matter is that the University of Nebraska has plenty of money to spend. The university’s administrators have not dealt honestly and transparently with the public about the funds that are available for them to use. For instance, NU regularly maintains nonrestrictive cash reserves in excess of $230 million. NU has maintained nonrestrictive cash reserves above $230 million for at least the past three years. According to State Sen. John Stinner of Gering, who is chair of the Appropriations Committee, NU maintains nonrestrictive cash reserves in excess of $230 million in order to protect its bond rating. However, the university could afford to spend $30 million out of its cash reserves with no change whatsoever in its bond rating, according to Stinner. What this tells me is that Bounds and the chancellors care more about protecting their bond rating than they do about lowering student tuition or keeping established programs intact. http://www.omaha.com/opinion/plus/midlands-voices-nu-program-cuts-aren-t-necessary/article_737f4229-4245-5b4f-b141-fb2cf91a2fd0.html