University R&D funds targeted for cutbacks

Scientific research at Montana’s universities is about to take a $1.6 million hit on
the chin for the state’s ailing budget.

Budget officials Wednesday told the House Appropriations Committee they’d like to trim the
amount of state money spent on research and development from $4.85 million to $3.165
million this year. They said the savings is needed to plug a $44.8 million shortfall in the state
budget.

By TOM LUTEY Chronicle Staff Writer

In future years, research funding would remain $1.2 million below the original mark.

The cuts would devastate one of the state’s economic success stories, said Ralph Hutcheson,
president of Bozeman-based Scientific Materials. The laser research company is one of
Montana State University’s oldest research partners.

Projects in need of continued funding, in addition to new campus research, would be
jeopardized, he said. Research funding is also open to private researchers, but higher
education gets the lion’s share.

"It eliminates funding of at least 12 programs and may eliminate four more," Hutcheson told
the committee.

However, legislators in the Republican majority remained skeptical about research’s return.
Rep. Jeff Pattison, R-Glasgow, questioned whether Montana has, with few exceptions,
benefited from university research.

"How many businesses have we, the state of Montana, brought about with research?" Pattison
said.

Democrats, on the other hand, demanded to know why Gov. Judy Martz’ office selected
research funding for cuts above other programs, specifically the state’s new economic
development office, which was initiated by the governor last year. Late last week, Rep. Rosie
Buzzas, D-Missoula, suggested the office’s worth was unproven and should be eliminated by
the cash-strapped state.

The proposed cut was not acted upon by the committee Wednesday, but did seem to bring
lawmakers’ mistrust of higher education to the surface.

"This is the administration’s proposal," said Rep. Dave Lewis, D-Helena, Appropriations
chairman. "I guess they determined this to be the lowest priority."

Later in the day, Rep. Joe Balyeat, R-Belgrade, suggested the committee eliminate state
support of Law School students at the University of Montana in Missoula, essentially cutting all
state funding to the school. He suggested if legislators then consider that cut a success,
eliminating support of all Montana’s post-graduate students.

"Montana residents in post-graduate professional schools are presently paying only 55 to 60
percent of the total cost of their post-graduate education," Balyeat said. "It’s silly to make
working Montanans who can’t afford any college themselves pay for someone else’s advanced
professional degrees and 10-year college careers."

Research aside, there are $10 million in funding cuts projected for Montana’s universities.

Montana’s K-12 education system is expected to bear a similar amount. School proponents are
expected to testify before the committee Thursday.

Tom Lutey is at [email protected]

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