DENVER—State colleges and universities could still see a cut in funding despite federal stimulus money.
The Joint Budget Committee on Monday recommended cutting $50 million from higher education in the next fiscal year, which starts July 1.
Gov. Bill Ritter has proposed using federal stimulus money to give state colleges and universities an extra $50 million this year and next year to make up for budget cuts.
The committee’s vote to cut an extra $50 million would basically undo that proposed gain. Schools would have $655 million to spend next year, about the same level of funding they had in the 2007-08 budget year.
Budget committee members are trying to cut more than $780 million from next year’s budget because of the recession. They said it’s possible they may have to revisit higher education later and make even deeper cuts.
