TEMPE β Gov. Doug Ducey refused Thursday to commit to restore state funding for universities when the economy improves and even would not rule out future reductions.
In his first appearance before the state Board of Regents, the governor called on board members to revamp their current long-term plans for the schools to create "a sustainable long-term business plan that addresses the needs of students and the business community that depends on their success." And Ducey, who is a member of the board but has never before gone to a meeting, promised to work with them.
But the governor sidestepped a direct question by Bill Ridenour, a member of the board, who asked whether Ducey would commit to restoring some of the $99 million he and the Legislature cut in university funding just last month, on top of funding reductions in prior years.
The governor responded by citing "the difficulty of the financial situation of the state and the shortfall that we faced coming into office." Instead, he repeated his desire for a new plan for universities, one that focuses on results.
Ducey was no more forthcoming in speaking to reporters after the meeting. He said the state now puts about 7 percent of its budget into universities.
"Of course, there's opportunity for that to go up," he said. "But we need a growing economy to make that happen."
Nor was he willing to say that the current level of funding β about $650 million compared with more than $1 billion just eight years ago β is the floor.
"We are managing in a time of some scarcity," Ducey said.
"I'd much rather be in a time of abundance," he continued. "If the economy's growing, we'll have more dollars in which to make decisions on."
The governor did tell the Regents that they cannot simply depend on state funding to keep the university system operating. But he refused to say what percent of costs should be borne by students versus taxpayers, saying only college should be "as affordable as possible."
"That's what I think should be the role of the state, of the financial aid model, of the structure of the university and the administration," he said. "When you talk about opportunity for all, I want to see kids that want to go to college be able to access college."
Mark Killian, who chairs the board, said after the meeting he is not counting on Ducey or the Legislature to make that happen.
Killian has asked the board's attorneys whether it can sue the state for violating a constitutional provision which requires instruction be "as nearly free as possible." And the other alternative, he said could be for voters to take matters into their own hands and require the state to do a better job of funding the university system.
The governor's stance comes just a day before the three university presidents are set to make presentations for how much, if at all, they want to increase tuition in the wake of that $99 million cut in state funds.
