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Lawmakers warn FY2027 cuts to higher education and schools could strain programs; committee advances maintenance packet
Summary
Members criticized ongoing 5% reductions and lost enrollment funding for higher education and public schools, warning of program cuts (nursing, CTE, GME) and potential workforce impacts even as JFAC moved the packets forward with due‑pass recommendations.
The Joint Finance‑Appropriations Committee advanced the State Board of Education and public school support maintenance packets after several members warned the proposed reductions would threaten nursing residencies, career‑technical education, and K‑12 operating budgets.
Kevin Campbell, budget analyst for the State Board of Education functional area, presented the packet that covers colleges, universities, community colleges, agricultural research, extension, CTE and related programs. Senator Ward Engelking and others called out multi‑million‑dollar impacts from a 5% ongoing reduction plus enrollment/workload adjustments, citing potential layoffs, reduced instructional capacity for nursing and engineering programs, and diminished CTE funding.
For K‑12, analysts noted a difference in increases for districts on and off the state insurance plan: the packet applied a 14.4% increase to districts on the state plan and 10.83% to districts off the plan, producing an estimated $9 million differential that some members said would effectively reduce district operating budgets.
Committee members opposed or warned about cuts to graduate medical education (GME) and vocational rehabilitation programs because of attendant federal match and statutory obligations. Despite those objections, the committee adopted the higher education and public school support packets by roll‑call votes and added standard and limited new language relating to voluntary separations and data sharing.
The committee directed working groups to review specific areas of concern identified by members and to consider targeted enhancements or mitigations as part of the next phase of budget work.
