The state Board of Regents responds to the most recent budget address which included a projected cut.
If passed, the governor’s budget calls for a reduction of millions of dollars to the state university system.
With state revenues down, one of the major cuts proposed by Gov. Kristi Noem includes over $10 million from the state’s university system.
Nathan Lukkes is executive director of the Board of Regents, the group overseeing South Dakota’s public colleges and universities.
“Honestly, it wasn’t terribly positive, but also not surprising," Lukkes said. "As we forecasted at the November board meeting, we knew revenues were down. It’s going to be a tight fiscal year for the state, and that was certainly reflected in the governor’s budget address.”
However, Lukkes said the conversation isn’t over.
“We’ll be at the table to see what we can do and make sure we’re looking after the best interest of the system and coming out the best we can at the end of legislative session," Lukkes said. "On the upside, we have a lot of good leaders elected around this state who will be coming to Pierre here this January, so I have the utmost confidence in their ability to get together and do the right thing for the state and the system.”
The annual budget address is essentially a proposal to lawmakers and is subject to changes from legislators over the course of the session.
As another semester winds down, Lukkes said there are great things coming out of the state’s Regental system.
“Thank you to all of our faculty and staff who have made another semester a success," Lukkes said. "Then I did want to close with I’m constantly amazed with our student athletes, and I say that on or off the court or field. Just very impressive individuals. Whether its athletic performance, academic performance, graduation rates – they really set the example.”
The budget also proposes a 1.25 percent increase in wages to state employees, which would include Board of Regents hires.