With the Republican-led General Assembly aiming to deepen cuts outlined in Gov. Bev Perdue’s budget proposal, UNC-system officials plan to intensify their lobbying efforts.
The system’s lobbyists are regularly meeting with legislators and their staffs to emphasize the statewide economic benefits of universities in the form of research at campuses that results in the generation of new businesses.
But persuading legislators to maintain current funding levels requires a complex mix of strategies, said Anita Watkins, vice president for government relations with the UNC system.
Watkins said the system wants legislators to focus on the long-term benefits of an educated workforce rather than measures to alleviate the state’s short-term economic crisis.
But Republican legislators continue to stress that reductions be made from the University system’s budget to cope with a state budget shortfall of at least $2.4 billion.
Rep. Hugh Blackwell, R-Burke, co-chairman of the N.C. House appropriations subcommittee on education, said raising taxes to leave higher education funding untouched is not an option in a state with an unemployment rate of 9.9 percent.
“We cannot consistently spend whatever educators ask us to spend without regard to the economic circumstances of taxpayers that are paying the bills,” Blackwell said.
He said legislators will continue to meet with campus representatives to discuss particular funding items.
“They would like as much money as possible with as few strings attached and as many options as they can get,” he said about UNC-system lobbyists. Blackwell added he is willing to consider a continuation of funding for some items depending on the rationale provided by the administrators.