Gov. Paul Patton's much anticipated budget address, though a day late, was not short on surprises for higher education.
Before a joint session of the General Assembly last night, Patton laid out his two-year, $11 billion budget proposal during the State of the Commonwealth and Budget Address.
In his proposal, higher education would receive a 4 percent increase, the same as revenue growth.
"I'm committed to improving and increasing funding for higher education," Patton said. "This budget ensures that higher education gets its full share of revenue growth."
Under this plan, each university would get an increase of at least 3.2 percent. The universities had asked for a 7.2 percent increase.
But the Community College System, which in past years has received little funding, would get a 9.5 percent increase.
"This increase isn't enough to suit me, but it's substantially better than what they've been experiencing of the last four years," Patton said.
He also extended his oft-repeated challenge for higher education.
"If higher education expects to get more money they to must be expected to change," Patton said. He called for universities to work together more and eliminate the needless "turf battles."
Patton's proposal consisted mostly of a continuation budget, with one exception. He would approve the $1.3 million needed to run the engineering program in Paducah, offered cooperatively by UK and Murray State University.
In addition, UK was given permission for more expansion.
Deep in Patton's budget lies the permission for UK to spend $24 million of its own funds to expand Commonwealth Stadium to 72,000 seats and luxury sky boxes.
But one thing missing from the governor's budget is state funding for UK's William T. Young Library, currently under construction.
The General Assembly refused to finance the project.
Patton also proposed an increase for technical schools.
Vocational education would receive a 7 percent increase in funding to, in Patton's words, "prepare our working people to operate and maintain the increasing complex machines, business systems and technical processes that will make our economy grow.
"My budget is very tight," Patton said, "and cannot, without pain, be cut anymore."
Most of state government took a hit.
While 5 percent salary increases were included for state employees, most agency budgets were actually cut 4 percent from expected spending this year.
Patton's address drew high marks from party leaders. Majority Floor Leader Gregory Stumbo (D-Prestonsburg) said he thought the governor's budget was a "well-thought out continuation budget."
Minority Floor Leader Dan Kelly (R-Springfield) agreed, describing Patton's budget as "fiscally conservative."