It looks as if Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack will be forced to accept the legislative plan to solve the state’s $121 million budget shortfall. The Republican plan puts Vilsack in a very difficult decision; his only other option at this point is a 2.6 percent across-the-board cut. He won’t do that.

Vilsack, Democrats and other state officials – including Regent university officials – had hoped the state would dip into their Rainy Day Fund to solve the shortfall. That didn’t happen.

The Republican plan takes only $44.8 million of the $121 million from the economic emergency fund, in addition to moving $51 million from other state funds. As a result, many state agencies’ budgets will face an additional 1 percent cut.

This is more bad news for Iowa’s schools and state workers. According to the Iowa Board of Regents, that cut would reduce university budgets by $6.5 million, which is on top of the 6 percent cut last spring and the 4.3 percent cut last fall. The university needs to prepare for a whole new 1 percent budget cut, and it shouldn’t be surprised to see more double-digit tuition raises in the coming years.

Republicans in the legislature shot down the last-ditch efforts by Vilsack and the Democrats to get the entire shortfall covered by the state Rainy Day Fund.

This is unfortunate. Iowa is one of the few states with a healthy emergency fund, and the current shortfall should have been covered with the Rainy Day Fund.

Cut budgets or use the Rainy Day Fund. You shouldn’t do both.

After all, the purpose of the emergency fund is to help pay the state’s bills on time. Exactly what we need at this point. The number compromised by Republicans after immense pressure from Iowa schools and state workers was $44.8 million.

It’s not enough. There was more than enough money in the Rainy Day Fund that could have covered the new shortfall. It should have been tapped and then the legislature could have started preparing a responsible budget for 2003.

There needs to be a better solution. Legislators have to ensure that this year’s budget problems aren’t a recurring theme in our state. The time has come for Democrats and Republicans to work together to plan ahead for next year. We can no longer sustain these dramatic and severe cuts to higher education. The universities have suffered enough after the bombardment of problems this year.

Every cut brings down the quality of Iowa’s education. And every cut raises tuition of its education. These are two things that should not happen at the same time.

Let’s hope things aren’t as glum at this time next year. Will we still be discussing what gets cut and when? Or will the legislature take the mistakes of this budget year and use those to ensure we won’t be talking about it? Here’s to hoping for the latter.

editorialboard: Andrea Hauser, Tim Paluch, Michelle Kann, Charlie Weaver, Omar Tesdell