By Chad Lampe
Murray, KY – Murray State University President Dr. Randy Dunn is looking for ways to brace for what could be a 3.2 million dollar cut in the school's budget. Governor Steve Beshear's budget plan includes a 6.4% cut to higher education to take effect next fiscal year.
Dr. Dunn hopes to offset some of the cuts by tuition increases, if he's allowed. "Typically the (Kentucky's) Council On Post-Secondary Education sets tuition ceiling given the authority they have, and we can't have that double whammy this year,"Dunn said.
CPE President Bob King hasn't yet issued a statement on the Governor's Budget plan. Dunn says the university should be able to absorb the cuts with a moderate tuition increase and the use of some university reserves. He says the funding cut could change though as the house and senate still have to agree on their own budget plan.
Dr. Dunn was heartened to learn that Governor Beshear has outlined $4-million in bond funding for property and design work for a new Breathitt Veterinary Center in Hopkinsville. University officials have lobbied for a new facility for quite some time. Dunn says the property acquisition, if passed, would be a good start to a new facility. He says, though a construction project could be many years away.