These days represent tough times for public resources. Politicians myopically supporting tax cuts without considering the consequences of those cuts should themselves be cut. There is no excuse, there is no defense for considering taxes before considering the demand for public services. While providing quality public services is not cheap, it does not necessarily need to be expensive, either.

On the one hand, there is a group of people who have focused on what certain groups — namely, their own groups — are “entitled” to receive. They detract from those who are committed to providing better services that benefit the public good.

On another hand, there is a group of people who have focused on one single issue: taxes. They have benefitted from government services, but now take this for granted.

There are a lot of wrong people out there. Or, are there? Perhaps “wrong” isn’t the right word to describe the entitlers and the entitled. We are, after all, a TV nation full of instant gratification seekers. Our problems include shortsightedness, a misunderstanding of economics among those who so vocally claim to know the subject, and …

Well … I could go on. And I have done so in previous rants. What good does it do? Education, health care, mobility, the environment, peaceful relations with our allies … all these things benefit the public — not just individuals, but the entire public.

In yet another sign of the effects of conservative policies, Patton sent out this message today (emphasis mine):

Dear Students, Colleagues and Friends:

In response to revenue shortfalls facing the State of Georgia, Georgia State University has been forced to prepare for an additional $7.3 million reduction in our operating budget for this current fiscal year ending June 30, 2005.

This latest budget cut demand for Georgia State is part of the $68.7 million additional reduction throughout the University System of Georgia required by the governor’s Office of Planning and Budget. Although the University System receives only 10.9 percent of the state’s total budget, this $68.7 million cut compels the University System to shoulder 38 percent of the total decrease in state funding in this round of cuts. Since 2001, Georgia State University alone has absorbed state funding cuts totaling $33.7 million, reducing our state appropriation to less than 30 percent of our annual university budget.

During this time of decreasing state appropriations, our student enrollment has climbed to record numbers, increasing by more than 15 percent. Along with the increase in enrollment, we have seen great improvement in the quality of our incoming students indicated by higher test score and freshmen index averages. Our student retention and graduation rates are up as well as our program rankings.

I am pleased with the outstanding work Georgia State’s faculty and staff have done to provide the highest quality education and service possible for our students. Despite increased productivity, the university’s faculty and staff have not received adequate raises in recent years due to continuing budget cuts. It is no easy task to attend to the needs of increasing numbers of students when the university budget cuts have also resulted in the loss of more than 230 positions through layoffs, hiring freezes and attrition since 2001. To meet the $7.3 million cut mandated in August, more positions will certainly need to be cut.

Maintaining quality at Georgia State University requires continued investment. As the state dollars for higher education decrease, the difference needs to be made up so the quality can continue for those we serve. At Georgia State, we have increased efficiency through outsourcing, larger class sizes, heavier work loads and technological improvements. We will continue to look for other ways to respond to the reduction in state support. However, our budget cuts have been so deep that we must seek additional revenue in order to maintain quality.

You have read news reports that a mid-year tuition increase will be discussed at the October meeting of the Board of Regents. Although the University System is always reluctant to increase costs to students and their families, I must support this tuition increase. Tuition at Georgia’s public universities is now among the lowest in the nation, but there is no benefit from maintaining a low tuition ranking when our value is at stake. We cannot let the quality of teaching, research and student services slip at Georgia State!

I hope you will continue to support Georgia State and the University System as we move through these difficult financial times. Thank you for allowing me to bring you up to date.

Sincerely,

Carl Patton
President

Education, not among the highest priorities of either the governor or lieutenant governor, is the best public resource this state has to ensure its own economic prosperity, which translates to higher tax revenues, which translates to room to provide for other public services. Isn’t there anybody else out there who sees it this way?