Budget Share

Higher education's share of the state budget ranged from 11.5 percent to 17 percent in the seven states for FY 99.

Budget share increased by less than 1 percent in Arizona and South Dakota.

In Washington, budget share remained unchanged from the prior year.

Budget share declined in Idaho (-.4 percent), Utah (-.1 percent) and Wyoming two-year colleges (-.2 percent).

Legislation in Idaho established a budget stabilization fund which could reduce general fund dollars for higher education by $2 million per year over the next three years.

During 1997, the South Dakota Board of Regents developed a performance-based funding framework. Because the state's funding formula was not statutory, legislative action was not required to replace it with the framework. By allowing the system of higher education to retain the general funds that would have been cut under the formula calculations, the legislature in effect gave approval to the new framework.

The Wyoming legislature focused on funding for K-12; the state's new funding formula will affect community colleges.