Legislative Session
During his inaugural speech, Gov. Mike Beebe talked about the need to look at issues such as Medicaid, repayment of unemployment funding to the federal government, roads, prisons, and education. The Governor is asking in his proposed budget for a half-percent reduction in the food tax as well as an increase of two percent funding for K-12 education and a one percent funding increase for higher education. The funding increase would be more than $600,000 in new state money for UCA.
However, the Governor’s budget does not contain additional tax cuts. Additional tax cuts would mean other areas in the budget, such as higher education, would see no increases or even cuts to current funding levels, according to the Gov. Beebe.
Other issues such as a common course numbering system, campus safety issues with handguns, repealing Amendment 33 (which gives university boards their independence), and lottery scholarship funding levels are just some of the other issues the legislature will address over the next few months.
The Division of University and Government Relations will be hosting bi-weekly meeting to discuss the legislative session and the bills that directly impact the university. The first bi-weekly meeting was held on Jan. 28. Sen. Gilbert Baker addressed faculty and staff members.