ASU, NAU, UofA presidents back Brewer

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percent sales tax. Arizona State Universityy PresidentMichael Crow, Northern Arizona University President John Haeger and Universityt of Arizona President Robert Sheltonn have come out in support of Brewer’se budget fearing proposals by the Republican-controlle Legislature will contain draconiajn cuts to school budgets. “While the governor’sx budget includes tens of millions of dollars of cuts for the threes stateuniversities – on top of the hundredsx of millions in cuts we have already taken those cuts are substantially less than the totalk cuts in the proposed legislative which includes an additional $90 milliob in university auxiliary fund sweeps,” said Crow in a “These funds include payments students have made for self-supportingf services such as the book store, residence hallz and cafeterias.
” Fiscal 2009 budget measures have promptedf layoffs, furloughs and program cuts at the universities and officials expecgt more cuts in the fiscap 2010 budget as the state facex a $3 billion to $4 billio n deficit. Crow said major cuts could mean closure of ASU West in northwesf Phoenix and its Polytechnid campusin Mesa. Brewer’s budgert would use federal stimulus money and the sale s tax increase to mitigate cuts in education andhealtuh care. In addition to asking voter for thetax boost, she is proposingh a ballot proposition to allow the Legislatured to adjust voter-mandated spending. NAU’s Haeger has written Brewerd offering to help to promotethe budget.
Brewer took over for Janegt Napolitano who resigned as governor tobecome U.S. Homelandf Security secretary. Anti-tax groups oppose Brewer’d proposed sales tax increase saying consumer spending isalready strained.