LINCOLN- A preliminary budget proposal for the University of Nebraska was revealed Wednesday by the Legislature's budget-writing Appropriations Committee. The University of Nebraska system previously requested a 3% annual increase to its budget, but Gov. Pillen's allocation for the school system fell just below that. Instead of the requested 3%, Gov. Pillen allocated in his newly-revealed budget a 2% increase for each of the next two fiscal years. Sen. Rob Clements, who chairs the Appropriations Committee, said he wanted to hear from university officials before making any economic decisions geared towards the school system.

The hearing with these university officials is scheduled for March 3rd and Clements stated that the committee's decision will likely fall between 2% and 3%, slightly above Pillen's proposal but slightly below the University's as well. The preliminary budget proposal released by the Appropriations Committee largely followed Gov. Pillen's plan, but left open space to increase the University's budget.

Several groups, including the OpenSky Institute, have questioned whether or not Pillen's 2% budget allocation for the university system will allow NU campuses to keep up with inflation. Nebraska is currently sitting on an unprecedented amount of excess tax revenue, as well as a $1.8 billion cash reserve, but Sen. Clements indicated his wishes to save around $1.3 billion in the reserve while meeting the needs of Pillen's budget proposal.

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