With Dunleavy, Alaska leads nation in decline for higher education funding

The contradiction between Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s words and deeds is clear when it comes to higher education, as he is sending an unmistakable message to the nation that he sees a future of continued decline.

One of the hallmarks of his administration is his continued attack on the University of Alaska, an institution that is far more important to the state’s future development than gambling, gun manufacturing, or any of the other scattershot ideas embraced by Dunleavy or his staff.

Alaska leads the nation in cutting state spending for higher education this year, the past two years and the past five years. If Dunleavy has his way, the streak will continue for years to come.

While never failing to mention that he and two of his daughters attended the University of Alaska when talking about UA, he doesn’t recognize the role of higher education in attracting research, business, professionals and development to the state.

While nearly every other state is increasing state appropriations for higher education, Alaska leads the nation in cutting with an 11.2 percent decrease this fiscal year.

Under Dunleavy’s three-year blackmail plan to dismantle the University of Alaska, there will be decreases in the next two years as well, unless the Legislature can overturn his destructive proposal.

The latest national rundown on state education spending shows Alaska at the wrong end of the chart for this fiscal year.

“Alaska sustained an 11.2% decrease, the result of a gubernatorial decision to substantially reduce funding to the University of Alaska system over the ext three years. Hawaii and New York reported much smaller declines of 2.2% and 0.3%, respectively,” the Grapevine survey said.

Forty-seven other states increased investment in higher education, led by California, Texas, Illinois, New Jersey and Tennessee.

Only Alaska and Kentucky show a two-year decline and only five states have achieved a five-year decline, led by Alaska with a 21.9 percent cut, nearly $100 million.

The real reduction in state support is greater because the numbers on the annual Grapevine survey are not adjusted for inflation.

Dunleavy and his former temporary budget director, Donna Arduin, performed no analysis before deciding that dismantling the university was a brilliant idea. They invented statistics and made false claims.

In July, Mike Barnhill, now the acting revenue commissioner, tried to present the one-page Dunleavy master UA plan with a straight face, spouting a lot of gibberish about eliminating state funds for research.

The Dunleavy idea is that Alaska spends too much on the University of Alaska and cutting the budget will magically create a better future.

The value of increasing investment in higher education is obvious to the leaders of almost every state in the nation.

We can only hope the 2020 Legislature recognizes what the governor doesn’t.

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