Gov. Tim Kaine called for increased funding to the Commonwealth's higher education program in his keynote speech to College of William & Mary students during their Charter Day Ceremony Saturday.
Saying knowledge was the "currency of our time," Kaine called for the state to plug the gap between the state's funding obligation and the actual appropriations to higher education.
"Those of us in leadership positions should meet our obligations," Kaine said. "The current gap between our actions and words -- between the funding obligation and the state's appropriation for higher education is $377 million per year."
This appropriations gap affects institutions throughout the state, including the University.
"State funding cuts since 1990 (and the lack of significant restoration after cuts) have brought Virginia's support for its public colleges to low levels by comparison both to Virginia's prior level of support and to current support in other states," University President John T. Casteen III said in an email. "Prior to 1990, Virginia provided [around] 30 percent of the University's operating budget. Owing to cuts made to balance deficit state budgets in 1990-1991 and 2002, state tax dollars now amount to about 8 percent. To my knowledge, only one other state, Colorado, provides such a small proportion."
Kaine called upon audience members to stay on top of current House legislation that could possibly pull transportation funding from higher education resources, Kaine's press secretary Kevin Hall said.
"He was encouraging them to be involved in the debate this year," Hall said. "They have something at stake if legislation is pulling dollars out of the place that funds higher education."
According to Hall, the governor has introduced "a very specific and targeted plan that would generate new money for people that use the transportation network" which would prevent the reallocation of funds from higher education to transportation.
While there is a Senate plan that proposes similar funding, there is also a House plan that would draw transportation endowment from current higher education and the K-12 finances, Hall said.
"Education is the single most important domestic public priority," Kaine said in his speech. "Each governor, each legislator, each college president has to protect the good we have and seek to extend and improve it."
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