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Governor's budget withholdings felt by higher education

Governor Jay Nixon’s withholdings announced Friday are expected to be felt by Missouri’s higher-education institutions. Nixon announced the removal of $9 million from the budgets of Missouri’s public colleges and universities, effective July 1st. It’s part of $15 million withheld from a budget Nixon says is $50 million out of balance. 

The move makes this the third consecutive year of state budget cuts affecting higher-education systems. University of Missouri System spokesperson Jennifer Hollingshead says the one percent budget withholding means the UM system will have four million dollars less to invest in strategic initiatives for the university:  “Every dollar is important to be able to fulfill its mission in teaching, research, service and economic development," says Hollingshead. "At the same time, given the difficult economic climate that we find ourselves in, we very much appreciate the house, the senate and the governor providing us the funding that will allow us to continue with our mission.”

Hollingshead says the UM system has been consolidating programs, eliminating positions and reducing other operation costs to cut $30 million out of its planned budget.  

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