LINCOLN- NU has requested a 3.5% increase for each of the next two years in its roughly $700 million state-aided university budget that funds core academic operations. Gov. Jim Pillen, a former NU regent, however, has recommended a 2.07% cut next year, as he tries to fix a projected $432 million state budget shortfall over the next two years and also provide more property tax relief to Nebraskans.

Also testifying before the Legislature’s Appropriations Committee were business leaders such as Heath Mello of the Greater Omaha Chamber, who spoke of NU’s annual $6.4 billion economic impact to the state, as reported in a recent economic impact study. NU President Dr. Jeffrey Gold, in his comments to the committee, described the university’s budget request as a modest but essential increase needed for the university system to continue its “promise to Nebraska — to remain the key engine of opportunity and innovation for generations to come.”

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