Here’s a test question to ponder. If Johnny Freshman’s university relies on one-time money to make ends meet, what will Johnny do when the funds are no longer there and his course of study is curtailed or, worse yet, cut out entirely?

Good question &045;&045; one that lawmakers must ponder in the coming weeks as they continue with the state’s budgeting process.

College Board member Thomas Colbert and Higher Education Commissioner David Potter appeared before the Joint Legislative Budget Committee on Wednesday to ask for more stable funding sources for the state’s universities.

During the current fiscal year, the state budgeted $56.2 million in non-recurring funds for Mississippi’s institutions of higher learning.

At the same time, the state’s eight public universities are asking for $647.4 million for the fiscal year that starts July 1 &045;&045; $167.2 million more than was appropriated the current year.

Even if next year’s request was the same as this year’s budget, using one-time money for recurring expenses of the university system makes it difficult to &uot;do effective planning in the future,&uot; Colbert was quoted as saying.

At a time when students need ever more sophisticated training for emerging high-tech careers &045;&045; and continue to need diverse knowledge bases and skills to succeed in life as a whole &045;&045; planning for the future is essential.

That’s why we encourage lawmakers to do the right thing by finding stable sources of funds for the university system.

And that’s why constituents must write lawmakers to make their concerns known &045;&045; and keep up with their votes to hold our leaders accountable.