The House voted on Thursday to cut funding for the University of Missouri System following months of criticism from state lawmakers over how the institution's leadership dealt with student complaints about racial issues on the Columbia campus.
The state budget passed by the Republican-led House cut $7.6 million for the Missouri system and $1 million for the Columbia campus. While this is a small portion of the $428.6 million allocated to the system this fiscal year, the state provides about 15 percent of the university's funding. House Speaker Todd Richardson said those cuts are targeted at administrators, and there's no reason why they should impact students.
University officials have said a drop in enrollment in the Columbia campus could also lead to a loss of at least $20 million in revenue.
"MU is going to hurt," said Rep. Denny Hoskins, the Warrensburg Republican who serves as House Speaker pro tem. He added budget cuts might be the only way to make the school change course.
Rep. Kip Kendrick, a Columbia Democrat whose district includes the University of Missouri, said the campus does need to address its racial issues, but acting like racism is unique to the school is disingenuous.
"I hear a lot about the lack of leadership at the University of Missouri. And while I don't necessarily disagree with that, I encourage each and every one in this body to take a long, hard look in the mirror," Kendrick said.
The cuts to the university were part of a $27.3 billion state spending plan, which also budgets more money K-12 education.
The relationship between the University of Missouri and lawmakers became strained after November protests over racial issues, which included a graduate student going on a hunger strike and some members of the football team threatened not to play a game in support. The turmoil culminated with the resignations of the former system president and campus chancellor. Some Republican lawmakers said campus leadership let the protests get out of hand and did not respond firmly enough.
Missouri also came under scrutiny for the actions of an assistant professor of communications, Melissa Click, who was fired after she barred student journalists from interviewing and photographing protesters during the unrest. Her actions raised questions about freedom of speech on the campus.
And Republicans have accused the Columbia school of aiding a local Planned Parenthood clinic in getting a state license to provide non-medical abortions.
The budget passed on Thursday renews the fight over Planned Parenthood by barring the Department of Social Services - which administers most of the state's Medicaid program - from making any payments to organizations that provide nonemergency abortions. Current law already prohibits state money from paying for abortions.
Planned Parenthood is still assessing whether other state funds will be affected, spokeswoman Sarah Felts said Thursday.
Basic aid for K-12 schools would get a $70 million boost from their appropriation of nearly $3.3 billion this fiscal year. But that would still be about $440 million less than what is required to fully fund public schools under a state formula.
The House has based its budget off a lower growth estimate than Gov. Jay Nixon. So if the state's revenues grow higher than 3.1 percent - the House's more conservative projection, compared to Nixon's 4.1 percent estimate - the extra money will go into a surplus fund, which will pay for items such as performance-based funding for public colleges and a cost-share program for transportation projects.
The budget will next head to the Senate. Lawmakers have until May 6 to pass a final spending plan.