Nevada’s governor, Jim Gibbons, who refuses to raise states taxes despite the fact that the university system needs like $110 million to operate next year, has a new plan for Nevada higher education. According to an article in Las Vegas TSG, “Nevada Governor Gibbons Proposes Sweeping Changes To Modernize Higher Education.” As the governor says:
Today I am proposing a series of reforms that will allow the Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE) to function in a more autonomous, flexible, and entrepreneurial manner.
Higher education in Nevada today is not only excellent, but it is a bargain. In the future, it is fair to ask our students to bear a greater share of the cost of education through increased tuition and fees. However, as we do that, it is also reasonable for them to see their dollars return to the campus. I propose that control over 100% of future increases in registration fees and out-of-state tuition be retained on the campus generating that revenue.
In short, Gibbons plans to privatize the university system. One wonders why he feels such a “sweeping” change like that is really necessary.
While Nevada doesn’t have a personal or corporate income tax, the state could almost close the university system’s budget gap if the governor raised states sales tax by a mere one quarter of one percent.
But let’s see what the universities think about Gibbons’ “autonomous, flexible, and entrepreneurial” plan to destroy fix higher education.
