Encourage legislators to support Gov. Kelly’s budget proposal

Dear Jayhawks for Higher Education:

Thank you for your continuing advocacy for KU and the state’s universities. The 2024 session of the Kansas Legislature has begun, and earlier this month, Governor Laura Kelly released her Fiscal Year 2025 budget recommendations, which serve as a starting point for legislative debate.

The Governor recommends significant new funding for higher education, which would help KU continue to fulfill its mission and prioritize affordability for students. We appreciate and support the Governor’s proposed budget, and we will spend the coming months encouraging lawmakers to include her recommendations in the final budget. We hope you will join these efforts by sending your own messages to legislators. 

Key elements of Gov. Kelly’s proposal for state universities are:

Base funding

• $14.1M increase to need-based student financial aid
• $7M increase to base/core operations

One-time funding

• $75M for the new KU Cancer Center building
• $20M for deferred maintenance
• $9.5M for student retention and success (NISS)
• $7.5M for cybersecurity
• $10M for demolition

In addition, Gov. Kelly proposes a 5% pay increase for state employees, including university employees.

As you ask legislators to support these proposals, it is worth noting that the past two years’ budgets have been the best for higher education in decades. We are grateful to the Governor and the Legislature for these investments, which provided much-needed financial aid for Kansas students and helped KU hold tuition flat for several years. This vital state support contributed to KU’s success in welcoming its largest freshman class in history last fall. 

Because Gov. Kelly’s proposals are only a starting point for debate, your communications with legislators can make a difference. Please urge lawmakers to include her higher education proposals in the final budget and continue the state’s investment in higher education.  

During the legislative session, we will continue to inform you of key issues, and you can find additional updates on the KU State Relations webpage. 

Again, thank you for your dedication as a JHE volunteer.

Heath Peterson, d’04, g’09
President, KU Alumni Association

Interested in learning more about Jayhawks for Higher Education? Visit kualumni.org/jhe.