A 2 percent cut to state universities was included in bills the governor signed on Friday.

This was one of many cuts made as a result of the predictions of more financial problems for the Commonwealth in the upcoming fiscal year. The cuts, alongside other measures, are expected to help balance the budget which is expected to be short by $456 million during the rest of the fiscal year. 

There is no set date for when the planning and decision-making will begin, said Tom Harris, associate vice president of external affairs at UK, but will begin “in the next several days.” The process involves the president’s cabinet and the budget office.

“The University budget office will develop a recommendation for the president and his cabinet on how best to manage the cut,” Harris said.

The Council on Post Secondary Education met Monday to hear an overview of budgeting for higher education in the three different sectors that include the research institutions, the comprehensives and the Technical College System, said Sue Patrick,  Council on Postsecondary Education communications director. 

Patrick said these conversations will continue over the next few weeks with campus budget officers, legislative leadership and the Governor’s staff.

“I think the conversations today acknowledge the poor economic condition that we are in and the fact that the families are hurting financially,” Patrick said.

UK President Lee Todd was there to give an overview of the finances of a research institution. 

On March 6 the Council on Post Secondary Education is going to set tuition ceilings for resident undergraduate enrollment, Patrick said.

“It is too early to know what these tuition ceilings might be but they will likely take into account the extraordinary economic downturn in Kentucky’s economy,” Patrick said.