As Minnesota sharpens its red pencil for budget cuts, it’s important to keep several things in mind.

Some targets only seem easy.

Like higher education.

For years, public higher education leaders have been calling themselves “state assisted” rather than “state funded.”

That’s a point that’s well taken. Though some would have you believe the burden of public higher education is completely on the backs of taxpayers, the truth is different. In some cases, less than half the operating revenue comes from the state.

Many universities and colleges have already innovated, consolidated and streamlined business for efficiency. Look at Winona’s own Southeast Technical College — an organization that merged administration in both Red Wing and Winona.

Until recently, southern Minnesota suffered from a lack of qualified workers in almost every sector. Employers needed good, reliable and well-trained labor.

That’s something that’s not going to change. In fact, in tightening times, we need even better trained employees who have diverse talents as every business looks to maximize every position.

And that’s why our higher education institutions — both public and private — are so critical.

We know economic booms and busts are cyclical. And, we know that getting out of tough times is usually achieved through innovation.

Both of those things suggest we need to keep our higher education institutions healthy. We need to keep students enrolled so the work force can rise to these very tough challenges.

We don’t need to remind legislators of the huge economic engines universities and colleges are to communities. Not only do those institutions continue to graduate students who have a higher earning potential (and thus the potential to throw off more tax dollars), but also students pump millions into local economies through job creation, competitive labor and living here.

Cutting higher education may seem like it’s saving money today, but we’ll certainly pay a much higher price later.

Is higher education an expenditure or an investment?

Well, just ask a college graduate and find out.

— Winona Daily News, Dec. 23