Nixon proposes 12 percent cut

When University President Troy Paino answered the phone Tuesday afternoon, he knew Gov. Jay Nixon, on the other line, was going to give him bad news. 

After hearing Nixon say he had made the decision to cut $106 million from higher education, translating to a 12.5 percent decrease in state appropriations, Paino said he was forced to realize the rumors he had heard were true.

"Even though we were planning for the worst, we were hoping for the best," Paino said.

Nixon released his budget information online Tuesday afternoon before giving his State of the State Address that night, in which he commended the legislature and his constituents for their strength and ability to get through the hard financial times Missouri has faced, while he shed light on the state's financial future.

Paino said Nixon shared this optimism with him during their phone conversation, expressing how he was confident there are better days ahead and Truman had the ability to move on in response to this challenge.

Paino's biggest concern, he said, continues to be what such a cut means for the University. He said that after a 5.2 percent cut during the 2011 fiscal year, then 7 percent during 2012, adding another 12.5 percent adds up to about a quarter of Truman's state money being taken away during three year's time.

"All of the easy cuts, if there were any easy cuts, are long gone," he said. "When you get to cuts this size, it makes the decisions much more difficult."

Paino said the decisions that need to be made about where cuts need to occur are something that he hopes to have more than just administration input.

"It really needs to be a conversation with more people, students included," Paino said. "We won't be able to preserve who we are and the quality that Truman stands for without a collective effort."

Missouri House Rep. Zachary Wyatt, R-2, said that while the situations look unfortunate now, he still is optimistic that there's a chance the general assembly could make it look better.

Because the next step in the budget process includes the general assembly submitting their proposed budget, Wyatt said conversations about lowering the percentage are happening between representatives. 

The concern, he said, is Nixon has the power to withhold the money regardless of any decreasing recommendations. This power, Wyatt said, is something Nixon exercised last year, bringing the legislative-proposed 3.2 percent cut from higher education to 7 percent.

Wyatt said while Nixon commends himself on leveling the funding for scholarships, the drastic cuts he has made to tuition are going to drain student scholarships faster, which Wyatt says is less conducive to students than it would be to avoid such appropriation cuts.

"I wish the governor would have taken a better position on higher education, but it will be interesting to see how we work together in the House to get that number dwindled down," Wyatt said.

Paino said he plans to have more financial information for Truman specifically at his all-University meeting Jan. 31. 

"I want to assure students that we are still committed to the principle that excellence and access are in equal balance, and we will do everything possible to keep tuition low as possible through it all," he said.