PHOENIX — The board that oversees Arizona's public universities is drawing a line on possible cuts in the system's state funding.
The Board of Regents Thursday issued a statement expressing concern that a yet-to-emerge legislative budget proposal could include cuts to universities' state funding beyond the 10 percent proposed by Gov. Doug Ducey.
Regents President Eileen Klein said the trend of what she called "defunding of our universities" runs counter to the state's goals of growing the economy and creating opportunity, and board Chair Mark Killian said Arizona can balance its budget on the backs of students and families.
The regents' statement says funding reductions for universities should be limited in size and duration and include triggers so that funding increases as soon as the state's budget position improves.
