State leaders say that while the final decision on higher education spending is not yet set in stone, the allocation of state dollars to universities will likely fall far short of what was requested.

Legislators said things could change before the session ends in May, but students will likely see another increase in tuition.

Rep. Jane Greimann, D-Ames, said higher education could see more changes before May, but “we do not know until that final gavel goes down.”

Greimann said she received a letter from the Board of Regents that said spending in the Regents universities has been cut $159 million during the past three years.

“[Without more funding], we will continue to see reductions in quality at all three state universities and there will be some cuts,” she said.

Rep. Lisa Heddens, D-Ames, said she would like to see higher education funding maintain and not drop each year.

“If there’s a cut to the universities it’s going to trickle down to the students,” she said. “That’s a huge concern when you think about students’ accessibility to higher education.”

Heddens said if higher education funding does not increase, each student will experience a tuition increase.

“I think we’re looking at a possible $600 to $700 increase per student,” she said.

Rep. Jim Kurtenbach, R-Nevada, said he would also like to see education spending level off.

“My goal since the start of the session has been to keep higher education at the same point it was at a year ago,” he said.

Kurtenbach said Regent universities have requested more money than they will likely receive.

“The harsh reality is, depending on what the university leadership wants to accomplish, we can never give them everything they want,” he said.

Sen. Herman Quirmbach, D-Ames, said he is not happy with the cuts to higher education.

“I definitely think we’re under-funding higher education,” he said. “It’s less than the governor’s recommendation, and I’m just very disappointed.”

Greimann said there has been some talk in the Capitol about universities having to pay a charge for capital improvements, though she predicts it will not pass.

“They’re asking the Regent universities to pay rent on their property in the tune of $40 million,” she said.

“I’m kind of betting that will not pass, but you’re always worried what will happen in that last week.”

Heddens said she hopes this does not happen. “I think that would be a huge blow to the universities,” she said.

Kurtenbach said he thinks universities will have to pay a charge for capital improvements.

“I think there will be some charge for capital, not only at the Regents, but I think it will happen at all levels of government,” he said. “This would provide governments return on investment measure when they build new buildings.”

Quirmbach said he is pushing for more money in work-study programs.

“The [amendment] I pushed for provided $2.7 million for work study and that did not succeed,” he said.

Quirmbach said a lot of students will suffer if work study is not funded.

“A lot of kids at each university, community colleges and a lot of private colleges benefit from that,” he said.