Lawmakers recommend 1.25% funding increase for NU, falling short of university’s request

LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) - The Nebraska Legislature’s Appropriations Committee voted to recommend a 1.25% increase in state funding for the University of Nebraska on Tuesday, walking back earlier plans for deep cuts but still falling short of the university’s original request.

The decision came during an executive session Tuesday afternoon, as the committee finalized its budget recommendations to the full Legislature.

University officials had hoped for a 1.25% increase in each of the next two fiscal years — totaling a 2.5% bump over the biennium. That still would have been less than the 3.5% increase the university initially requested. However, the committee opted for a one-time 1.25% increase for the entire two-year period.

Upon learning about the recommendation last week, University of Nebraska President Dr. Jeffrey Gold said it’s a welcome improvement but it won’t get them to where the university wants to be.