TOPEKA (AP) -- The Kansas Board of Regents wants the state's six universities to tighten their belts.

University of Kansas Provost Richard Lariviere said late Monday the state has asked regents universities to cut spending by 7 percent over the next two years. He said the regents are seeking 2 percent cuts this year and 5 percent in 2009-2010.

Regents want to review the six universities' cost-cutting proposals at their annual retreat on Aug. 19 in Wichita.

The need for cuts in state budgets emerged when figures were released June 30 showing a $61 million shortfall in anticipated tax revenues. At the time, Gov. Kathleen Sebelius asked state agencies to trim their planned spending for the new fiscal year by up to 2 percent.

However, Fort Hays State University President Edward H. Hammond said there would not be a significant effect yet for FHSU.

"If there is a rescission, the academic departments would not be negatively impacted," he said. "If it rolls into (2010), then that would have more of an impact."

Hammond said FHSU was warned of the potential situation in early July, when the governor sent out a memo about the state getting close to dropping below its required $100 million balance to trigger a rescission.

In his 21 years at FHSU, Hammond twice has experienced a rescission — a revocation of the existing budget in place of a new one.

"We built the budget for next year with some flexibility," he said. "We believe we can cover the rescission with one-time money if it occurs."

Using the one-time money will mean FHSU will have less strategic planning money to work with in the future. However, Hammond said he also could cover the budget cuts with money saved back from the budget each year.

"One of the things we do every year (is) we've held back 10 percent of the OOE, the other operating expenses budget," Hammond said. "In every year but one we've released it. We've been through a rescission and still released it."

* Hays Daily News reporter Gayle Weber contributed to this story.