Budget meeting gets heated on higher education funding

Lawmakers and university leaders fought for funding consideration Monday during a conference meeting.

There were some intense exchanges as some Senators and Representatives discussed how to fund state universities while maintaining a balanced budget.

“You keep talking about the students and how many [universities] have, but you don’t fund that way,” said Sen. Jamilah Nasheed (D-St. Louis) in defense of boosting funds for Harris-Stowe State University.

Rep. Scott Fitzpatrick, a Republican from Shell Knob who chairs the House Budget Committee, responded by asking, “Do you want us to fund based on the number of students?”

“No, we just want you to be fair,” Nasheed said.

“To operate a university in the state of Missouri in 2018 with a total of 9 million dollars, it’s challenging,” Dr. Dwaun Warmack, President of Harris-Stowe State University, said during a break in the conference.

The item in question was one of hundreds discussed by lawmakers in the hours-long meeting. After finalizing its recommendations the House will vote down the measures or pass them onto the Senate.

The legislature has until Friday to finalize the state budget for next year.