A quiz: Which debt-ridden state might pass a budget that could charge rent to regents universities, the Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Human Services — but not prisons?

Ten points and a tuition increase if you guess Iowa.

That’s right. Gov. Tom Vilsack hired Public Strategies Group, an independent consulting firm from St. Paul, Minnesota, to find previously uncut corners in the state budget. The consultant’s proposal found $40 million in the next fiscal year and $403.8 million over the next three years that could be siphoned away. The only caveat is that all state agencies could be charged for rent for buildings, land and equipment, including Iowa State, costing each student an extra $600 a year, according to the Des Moines Register.

After two years and $124 million in legislative cuts to regents universities, this proposal is nothing more than salt rubbed in an open wound. Rep. Bill Dix, R-Shell Rock, said that the proposal would force state agencies to recognize the cost of the space that they occupy, forcing some agencies to consolidate space to save money. Kind of like taking five 30-person sections of a class and consolidating them into a 150-person lecture.

Greg Nichols, Iowa Board of Regents executive director, also pointed out that gifts, grants and federal money contribute to the construction and upkeep of many buildings. Will those be taxed too?

Under the proposals, rent would be charged depending on the amount of land assets owned by an agency. The Department of Natural Resources and Department of Human Services were suggested, in addition to regents universities. Prisons, however, would probably not be included, nor the gold-plated Capitol in Des Moines.

The three presidents of Iowa’s Regent universities rightly decried the proposal. University of Iowa president David Skorton called it a divestiture of responsibility. ISU President Gregory Geoffroy accused the lawmakers of giving mixed signals, first saying they support higher education then acting differently. Robert Koob, president of the University of Northern Iowa, suggested that an across-the-board cut would be a better deal.

Luckily, Vilsack has decided that he still stands for keeping higher education costs reasonable. Monday Vilsack told the presidents of the three regents universities that other government efficiencies could be found and that the universities would not be charged rent, according to the Register.

Despite the governor’s opposition to the proposal, state lawmakers have not yet tossed the idea aside.

Iowa lawmakers need to strike this proposal before it becomes part of the budget. Students should not have to pay an additional property tax to attend a public university.