On paper, the proposed budget cut to higher education affects students and educators. 

In reality, it threatens the entire state of Georgia. 

Political accusations and line-item proposals aside, we cannot afford to cut education spending by any level.

MCCARTHY

Georgia education systems employ nearly 250,000 taxpayers. Undisputed research by public and private institutions emphasize the increase in productivity — meaning income and state-tax revenues — resulting from education. 

The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that high school graduates earn less than 60 percent of college graduates’ earnings.

Other figures show a college degree in Georgia increases earnings $14,000 annually.

Economists also have found positive non-market effects of increased education: higher public health, more charitable contributions, lower crime and more equitable income distribution. 

The shared benefit goes beyond dollar signs. The state’s research institutions provide an additional service to our citizens.

Research activities develop human capital as well as advance technology. 

Georgia Tech researchers lead innovations in solar and biomass energy sources.

The University of Georgia scientists are curing neurodegenerative diseases through exclusive research rights to certain stem cell lines. 

This research leads to a higher quality of life — not only for research participants but for all citizens. It also reveals to policymakers the best options in difficult decisions. 

It even increases state funds, as revenues from intellectual property return to taxpayers. The integrity of the state’s research enterprise must be preserved.

Higher education budget cuts result in a cascade effect. 

For example, the proposed $300 million reduction: 4,000 lost jobs means 4,000 fewer taxed incomes and 4,000 more citizens — plus their dependents — relying on government assistance. 

The reduction also results in at least 10,000 fewer degree earners annually, for a collective decrease of at least $140 million annually per graduating class.

Further, the legislature’s requirement reduces the state’s research capabilities by hundreds of millions of dollars.

This includes 4-H programs, Fiscal and Learning Disorder Centers, and Area Health Education Centers. 

Georgia should now leverage the ailing economies of its sister states to improve its own education system. 

Though North Carolina, Texas, California and Michigan schools are suffering, our state must increase the premium on our higher education institutions — especially research institutions — to attract the nation’s brightest scholars.

Cost-cutting and revenue-generating alternatives have been proposed. 

A temporary half-percent sales tax increase would raise an estimated $600 million, according to the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute. 

The state has begun cutting or consolidating the technical college system as another option. Representative Doug McKillip (D-Athens) proposed legislation including an excise increase on tobacco, which could raise State revenues by $400 million. 

Viable options exist for any political leaning. Higher education preservation and advancement must be the primary goal of the legislature.

Both today and tomorrow depend on it.

— Connor McCarthy is a senior from  Mobile, Ala. majoring in international affairs and economics,  and is the former president of SGA