Louisiana’s top higher education board is asking to nearly double public colleges’ state financing in next year’s budget, The Associated Press reports.
The Board of Regents acknowledged today that it was a long-shot request for more money when state lawmakers and a new governor will be grappling with deep budget woes. But board members and staff said the nearly $636 million boost is what would be needed to meet the state’s workforce expectations, while coping with colleges’ increased costs.
Public colleges are receiving $769 million in state financing this year. The Regents board is asking for $1.4 billion in the budget year that begins July 1. The Board of Regents, which oversees the divvying of state higher education funding, approved the budget request without objection. Leaders of Louisiana’s four public college systems helped develop the proposal.
