Public universities can read the writing on the wall

With polling evidence suggesting that people are willing to accept some cuts in higher education funding, the only question for public universities and community colleges is how bad will it be?

“I think all of us felt as though we were making real progress for higher education in Texas after the 2009 session. Now, it looks like a lot of those gains will be lost,” said state Rep. Joaquín Castro, a San Antonio Democrat and vice chairman of the House higher education committee.

Public community colleges and universities already have begun grappling with budget cuts by increasing class sizes, shedding full-time employees and filling the teaching ranks with part-time professors.

Further cuts could force them to defer maintenance projects, reduce academic offerings and cut programs that aren’t core to the teaching mission, according to college leaders.

It also could mean higher tuition for students and families, and in the case of community colleges, higher taxes for local property owners.

“It is going to be a tough session. (Lawmakers) are not going to raise taxes, we know that,” said Ricardo Romo, president of the University of Texas at San Antonio. “There will be cuts, but no one knows where the cuts will be.”

Yes, when your local community college board of trustees votes to increase their tax rate, don’t blame it on them. The Legislature will have made them do it.

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