Solutions Through Higher Education

Prop 100 could mitigate budget woes, Haeger says

Inside NAU
Apr. 7, 2010

A proposed temporary 1-cent sales tax increase will help Northern Arizona University weather an ongoing budget storm, but if Arizona voters turn it down, it could deal a devastating blow to both K-12 and the universities, NAU President John Haeger predicted Tuesday.

During a campuswide forum with faculty, staff and students at the High Country Conference Center, Haeger presented three projected university budget scenarios based on the outcome of the statewide sales tax vote. He urged the audience of about 200 to get out and vote on May 18 and to encourage others as well.

But he cautioned that even if the sales tax passes, it doesn’t solve the state’s budget problem. “There still could be additional cuts,” he said, explaining that state funding is not likely to return to previous levels.

In a best case budget scenario, university analysts assume the passage of Proposition 100, and that state appropriations are maintained through FY12 while the trend in increasing student enrollment continues.