This post was originally published by the Tallahassee Democrat.

As our state lawmakers move toward a final budget, it appears Florida colleges and the hundreds of thousands of students they represent are not a priority this year. Worse yet, although we don’t yet know the full extent, the state’s 28 colleges appear likely to see a cut of at least $30 million, while K-12 education and universities receive significant funding increases.

I share our state leaders’ vision for pre-eminent universities that attract students from around the country and world, but this cannot be accomplished at the expense of colleges and our students, many of whom are first-generation college students, minorities, students from families with low incomes or nontraditional students returning to the classroom. It is wrong and it is unnecessary.

Policy makers continue to approach education as if the three levels – K-12, colleges and universities – are somehow unrelated, when in reality, excellence in all three are interdependent and critical for Florida’s success in a global marketplace.

The impact of proposed state budget cuts will lead to difficult decisions here at TCC. Our commercial truck-driving program provides a small example. We started this program in 2016 because the Department of Economic Opportunity identified commercial truck driving as a high wage, high growth job in demand throughout our state.

With non-recurring state funding last year, TCC purchased trucks and a driving simulator for classroom use and made physical improvements to an outdoor practice area. Now that the program is up and running, we have been told not to expect state funding for its ongoing operation.

Our team will find a way to continue this important program, but there are hard choices ahead. Instead of discussing how we can improve student success, our energy will be focused on minimizing the damage to our budget.

Lawmakers have focused their cuts on developmental, or remedial, education, saying enrollment numbers in these classes are down. The reality is those students still come to us and still have needs for tutoring and other programs. What has been eliminated are the courses students registered for that were designated as remedial. The students are still coming – they are just harder to count.

The assumption that remediation is only needed for students coming to college unprepared out of high school is false. There are numerous scenarios in which students require additional academic support.

TCC has more veterans enrolled than FSU. Those veterans returning from combat need and deserve help getting back up to speed in subjects like algebra. We serve the stay-at-home parent who has raised a family and is now ready to focus on education and returning to the workforce. Colleges have always been there to help students succeed, regardless of their circumstances.

The Florida Chamber of Commerce has repeatedly noted talent is the new currency of economic development. Colleges provide talent developed in communities across the state in response to local business needs and that remain in our communities.

Businesses that relocate to our communities want to know they will be able to find the talent they need to thrive. I wonder what we will tell them.

Jim Murdaugh is president of Tallahassee Community College.