August 10, 2012
W.Va. higher ed seeks exemption from budget cuts
Tomblin wants some state agencies to trim ledgers by 7.5%
amy.har...@wvgazette

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- West Virginia higher education leaders plan to ask Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin for an exemption from his plan to cut many state agencies' budgets by 7.5 percent -- a reduction that would cost the state's colleges and universities almost $35 million.

"It's sort of like asking your star quarterback to take a salary cut," David Hendrickson, chairman of the state Higher Education Policy Commission, said Friday. "I think we need to send a strong message to the governor that we can't make any more cuts.

"They want us to increase college graduates in this state, which will increase the work force, which will increase the tax base and state revenue -- but we can't do that with this drastic cut."

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    11 Comments
    Posted By: T Hupp
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    Higher Ed in WV is very bloated for a state with fewer than 2 million.80% of the grads depart for other states to find employment:the highest out migration in the USA.Higher Ed should receive larger cuts that some of the other agencies such as DHHR.Why is WV training staff for other states

    The priority should be diversification and new business starts to stem the outflow of grads.
    Posted at: August 11, 2012 1:08:08 am

    Posted By: EnitoCindab
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    Higher education might be important, but health is key to the future of any individual or State. So why should prevention and other health programs be asked to make significant cuts?
    Posted at: August 11, 2012 7:14:16 am

    Posted By: gaaack
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    You have to love HEPC's implied threat - exempt us from the cuts or we're going to jack up tuition even higher than it already is now. Sheesh.
    Posted at: August 11, 2012 7:50:26 am

    Posted By: CAIIG
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    Baloney - Higher Ed is already so blotted they would never miss a 10% cut! We need more people to owork not more unemployed college grads.
    Posted at: August 11, 2012 9:58:17 am

    Posted By: Pacaderm
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    "It's sort of like asking your star quarterback to take a salary cut," David Hendrickson

    More like asking the termites to stop destroying the foundation of your house there Dave
    Posted at: August 11, 2012 10:35:14 am

    Posted By: chiefs1rocketmail
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    Let's be honest

    What they really mean is they are afraid it may effect their salary not the quality of the students education.
    Posted at: August 11, 2012 10:45:59 am

    Posted By: bambislayer525
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    Why? The governor's report says they are wasting money.
    Posted at: August 11, 2012 11:14:23 am

    Posted By: Pacaderm
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    Looks like the resident socialist is screening again

    We'll try again

    Why shouldn't we cut what isn't working?.......Like teachers unions and public pensions?
    Posted at: August 11, 2012 12:04:32 pm

    Posted By: jedimcintyre
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    Third string quarterback at best. Small college in every town. Maybe a few mergers like UC / MSU to wring out the administrative costs and focus on education.
    Posted at: August 11, 2012 2:18:46 pm

    Posted By: AaronS
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    The HEC awareded construction of Advantage Valley, home of their new headquarters to contractor N even though their quote was $500,000.00 HIGHER than contracter B simply because contractor B ommitted a statement regarding their drug testing policy.

    Here's the kicker. Contractor B had submitted the statement of drug testing policy on other occasions, including on their current project in the Dow Tech Park, KVCTC. And the statement is not a requirement of state law. Yet the Higher Education Council is still willing to spend half a million dollars MORE to a lower bidding contractor.

    With that kind of extensive waste, why should they be exempt from the same budget cuts every other agency is exempt from?
    Posted at: August 11, 2012 5:06:03 pm

    Posted By: Joe Brown
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    This small state has more public colleges and universities than it can support. It doesn't help that some presidents are spending taxpayer money on lavish decorating of office and home, or even on Hollywood-style moviemaking for their no-talent offspring.
    Posted at: August 18, 2012 10:01:44 am

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