State leaders say cuts to higher education expected in budget negotiations still have to pass through the Senate and House Appropriations Committees before they can become a bill. Leaders predict changes can be made to make the cuts less drastic.

Rep. Jane Greimann, D-Ames, member of the Education Appropriations subcommittee, said the committee voted Thursday to approve the Republican budget for education, which is $25 million short of Gov. Tom Vilsack’s higher education spending proposal.

She said “that means [the proposed budget has] $11 million left for Iowa State.

“When the regents spoke to us, they were asking for more than what the governor had [in higher education],” Greimann said. “There’s a big difference between the Republican budget and the governor’s budget, and the governor’s was still $4 million short of what the regents asked for.”

Rep. Lisa Heddens, D-Ames, said she believes if the cuts pass, the three state universities will suffer in several ways. She said classes will continue to get larger, will be tougher to get into, taught by more teaching assistants and professors will be harder to get in contact with.

Sen. Herman Quirmbach, D-Ames, who is professor of economics on leave from Iowa State, said the funds proposed to revitalize the state work-study program will also be cut considerably if the proposed budget passes.

“It will cut $2.7 million out of work study,” he said. “[Cutting work study] is not going to save a lot of money but it’s going to hurt a lot of kids who are already suffering from increased tuition.”

Rep. Jim Kurtenbach, R-Nevada, and member of the Education Appropriations subcommittee, said he believes the budget is still up for negotiation as it goes to Senate and House Appropriations.

“I think it is fair to state that the Education Appropriations subcommittee tends to have a lot of individuals who are more focused on community colleges,” said Kurtenbach, professor of accounting. “My expectation is that further adjustments will be made to the education appropriation as it comes out of the House and Senate Appropriations committees.”

Greimann said she believes the debate for higher education spending is far from over.

“I think the governor is pretty strong about needing more money for higher education, and I think there’s room for negotiation,” she said.

Kurtenbach said he believes higher education spending will be very similar to that of last year.

“My expectation is that the Regents universities and community colleges, at the end of the year, will approach a status quo budget [one the same as last year’s],” he said. “It’s been my goal since I got here to dedicate the same funds to higher education as was dedicated last fiscal year.”

Heddens said the Democrats will continue to push for more money in higher education.

“My prediction is that the Democrats are going to fight for higher education funding,” she said. “I don’t foresee us just sitting by and letting the education budget stay as it is.”