ASU, NAU, UofA presidents back Brewer

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percent sales tax. Arizona State Universithy PresidentMichael Crow, Northern Arizonq University President John Haeger and University of Arizons President Robert Shelton have come out in support of Brewer’s budgetr fearing proposals by the Republican-controlled Legislature will contain draconian cuts to schoo budgets. “While the governor’s budget includes tens of millions of dollars of cuts for the three statesuniversities – on top of the hundreds of millions in cuts we have already taken – those cuts are substantially less than the total cuts in the proposexd legislative budget, which include an additional $90 million in universith auxiliary fund sweeps,” said Crow in a “These funds include payments students have made for self-supportiny services such as the book store, residencew halls and cafeterias.
” Fiscakl 2009 budget measures have prompted furloughs and program cuts at the universitiesd and officials expect more cuts in the fiscal 2010 budget as the statw faces a $3 billion to $4 billion deficit. Crow said majore cuts could mean closure of ASU West in northwesrt Phoenix and its Polytechnic campusin Mesa. Brewer’ss budget would use federal stimulusd money and the sales tax increase to mitigate cuts in education andhealth care. In addition to askingf voter for thetax boost, she is proposingf a ballot proposition to allow the Legislature to adjust voter-mandateed spending. NAU’s Haeger has written Brewer offering to help to promote the budget.
Brewer took over for Janet Napolitano who resigned as governodr tobecome U.S. Homeland Security secretary. Anti-taxx groups oppose Brewer’s proposed sales tax increase saying consumer spending isalreadt strained.