Budget cuts focus of meeting

University system Chancellor Jim Rogers said Monday that his staff will work with Gov. Jim Gibbons' office to discuss ways to prevent higher education system budget cuts.

Although no agreement was reached at a meeting with the governor in Las Vegas on Monday, Rogers said the meeting "went very well."

"They're going to be talking about what other sources (of funding) there are so we don't have to receive a cut," Rogers said.

Rogers said he wants the governor to look at either raising taxes, using the state's rainy day fund, or cutting the budgets of other agencies, such as the prison system and highway construction projects.

He said he told Gibbons at the meeting, "You know, if you cut the prison system (budget), everybody will cheer for you. If you cut the higher education budget, everybody will want to lynch you."

In a memo Rogers sent to the governor before Monday's meeting, he suggested Gibbons look at whether cost-of-living salary increases for all state employees could be reduced instead of "asking other agencies to make layoffs."

Rogers also said the governor supported a proposal that would allow the university system to keep all additional fee increases university students will be asked to pay. Now, such increases are returned to the Legislature for the general fund.

A spokeswoman for Gibbons did not return a call seeking comment Monday afternoon.

The governor has requested the higher education system come up with a plan to slash its budget by 8 percent because of expected state revenue shortfalls. And state officials announced last week that even more cuts might be necessary.

But Gibbons has exempted other agencies, such as law enforcement, the prison system and elementary through 12th grade public education from the cuts.

Rogers has refused to come up with budget cut plans requested by the governor, although last week he presented to the Board of Regents a rough outline for Nevada's two universities that showed the cuts could increase class sizes, delay the opening of new buildings and lead to higher fee increases.

Board of Regents Chairman Michael Wixom, who joined Rogers at the meeting Monday, said the talks were a positive step toward finding a solution for the budget crisis.

"The governor said he was open to talk about anything," he said.

Contact reporter Lawrence Mower at lmower@reviewjournal.com or (702) 383-0440.