CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) --Nevada lawmakers and higher education officials are still at odds over how much money should be restored to the budget for the state's universities and colleges, with both sides saying they have had sleepless nights over the issue.
Lawmakers had asked higher education officials to provide details on two alternatives to Gov. Jim Gibbons' proposed 34 percent cut to higher education. One would reduce funding by 18 percent, and another would reduce funding by nearly 10 percent.
``The system cannot withstand a 34 percent cut, so that cut is going to have to be reduced dramatically or else we won't have a system of higher education,'' Assembly Speaker Barbara Buckley, D-Las Vegas, said during a Senate-Assembly budget subcommittee on Friday.
However, Buckley added, ``We would like not to have any cuts, but that's just not possible with the economic conditions facing our state.''
Despite tensions over the past few weeks, both sides pledged to work together.
``It has been strongly suggested that we move on with the gloom and doom,'' said Chancellor Jim Rogers. ``We consider ourselves strong advocates for the higher education system, but we don't think of ourselves as adversaries against you.''
Rogers said that coming up with hypothetical scenarios to deal with budget cuts without having a dollar figure from the Legislature, would not accomplish anything, and could lead to a mass exodus of employees.
``We are hoping to be able to come to a deal,'' Rogers said. ``I have no specific indication, but I'm hopeful that it will be in the single-digit area.''
Buckley said the budget subcommittee is likely to make a decision before April 17, when it is scheduled to meet with higher education officials again.
``It's like pushing a boulder, man,'' Buckley added. ``We're still pushing it.''
