NEW YORK, NY May 16, 2006 —Today in Trenton the Presidents of New Jersey's public colleges will make their case for restoring $69 million in cuts to higher education.

The College Presidents will defend themselves against charges they make too much money with their average compensation closing in on $300,000 annually. According to John Shure with New Jersey Policy Perspective, the budget cuts come at a time when the state's support of it's colleges has failed to keep pace with increased demand. A report by Shure's think tank found that currently New Jersey's nine state colleges and univesities are rejecting 75 percent of the residents who apply.

Since the 1980's the percentasge of the state budget dedicated to public higher eduation has dropped from 10% of the state budget to just 5%. Currently state aid only counts for 19% of the operating costs of the state public colleges.