By Joshua Robinson
KU Statehouse Wire Service

TOPEKA – The state’s six public universities will not likely see dramatic budget cuts this year.
Lawmakers plan to take money from the state’s general fund and allocate it to a special education fund, reducing the impact of state budget shortfalls on higher education.

Last week the House Education Budget Committee, chaired by Rep. Amanda Grosserode, R-Lenexa, discussed the financial welfare of the Board of Regents schools in fiscal year 2016.

Lawmakers plan to transfer money from the state’s General Fund and earmark it for the Education Building Fund. Usually, building funds are used for rehabilitation and repair costs, but Gov. Sam Brownback has recommended those funds be spent on information technology systems at universities.

This process of funding information technology systems will happen for all six Board of Regents’ schools. The funding also will be provided to the institutions’ satellite campuses, which include the University of Kansas Medical Center and Kansas State

University Extension Systems and Agricultural Research Programs.

The University of Kansas will receive the largest amount – $1.8 million.
The budget plans will go to Appropriations Committee on Wednesday.

Edited by Madeline Mikinski.