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Barbour’s university merger proposals could falter
Published Wednesday, November 18, 2009
JACKSON (AP) — Some Mississippi House members say Republican Gov. Haley Barbour’s most politically sensitive budget proposals are likely to be dead on arrival — including a recommendation to merge eight universities into five.
Rep. Cecil Brown of Jackson, a Democrat on the Joint Legislative Budget Committee, said Tuesday he opposes Barbour’s idea of merging Mississippi University for Women into Mississippi State and combining the three historically black universities into one. Barbour proposes merging Alcorn State and Mississippi Valley State into Jackson State.
‘‘I really fail to see that we’re going to save much money, and it’s bad public policy,’’ Brown told The Associated Press. ‘‘I’m not sure the cost would be worth it — the cost to students, the cost to the long-term economic outlook of the state.’’
Republican Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant, who leads the Senate and is current chairman of the Legislative Budget Committee, said in a written statement that he will seriously consider Barbour’s proposals. But Bryant said he’s also ‘‘discussing other possibilities’’ with the Senate Universities and Colleges Committee Chairman Doug Davis, R-Hernando, and members of the College Board.
Barbour on Monday unveiled his $5.5 billion proposed budget for the fiscal year that begins next July 1. Because experts anticipate a slow economic recovery, Barbour suggests saving money by closing some mental health centers and restructuring education. He said most agencies would take 12 percent cuts.
The 14-member Legislative Budget Committee will release its own recommendations in December. All 122 House members and 52 senators will get to vote on a final spending plan in early 2010.
Barbour said if universities are merged, all campuses would remain open but the state would save money by reducing administrative jobs and eliminating duplicate programs. He also proposes combining all universities’ purchasing and personnel functions.
Both chambers of the Legislature and the state College Board would have to agree on a plan to merge any universities, and it’s already clear that’s unlikely to happen. House Universities and Colleges Committee Chairman Kelvin O. Buck, D-Holly Springs, said Monday he opposes Barbour’s ideas. It’s nearly impossible to pass legislation if a chairman is against it.
Alumni groups are gearing up to oppose mergers.
James McDonald, president of the ASU National Alumni Association, said the association understands the state needs to save money. He said the group wants to work with Barbour, lawmakers, the College Board and ASU President George E. Ross ‘‘to develop a comprehensive plan that will provide quality higher education for students in Mississippi while maintaining the integrity and historical value and contributions of Alcorn State University.’’
Barbour also proposes reducing the number of school districts from 152 to 100. He said districts that are struggling academically or financially could be combined with more successful ones.
Sam Bounds, executive director of the Mississippi Association of School Superintendents, said Tuesday that school consolidation should be a local decision.
‘‘We don’t agree with just wholesale consolidation,’’ Bounds said.
He said current state law already allows districts to consolidate if there’s an agreement between school boards and superintendents.
However, Bounds said research shows cost savings are minimal through consolidation. He said state funding still follows the students no matter where they’re located. And he said the salaries of principals and superintendents are a local expense.
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Associated Press writer Shelia Byrd contributed to this report.
