Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. and lawmakers had agreed public schools should be "held harmless," using money taken from other areas as a temporary budget bandage.

Higher education is a different story.

At a time when enrollment appears to be surging, the state's 10 institutions of higher learning were asked to take what officials say is an across-the-board reduction of 6 percent. The University of Utah's share would be nearly $16 million.

"The impact varies a lot within each institution. It means new vacancies won't get filled. The biggest danger is student services get cut," said William Sederburg, Utah's new commissioner of higher education.

"What a first day on the Hill."

If approved by the full Legislature, the hit would be the biggest sustained by higher education in 21 years, officials said.

Sederburg said it costs $6,000 a year to educate a college student. With a 5,000-student spike in enrollment this fall, perhaps due to the economic downturn, the state system is already saddled with $30 million in unexpected costs.

While elementary and secondary schools are being spared now, there's no guarantee the reprieve will last.

State Superintendent Patti Harrington said lawmakers and education leaders will have to brainstorm over the budget in coming months. "We can't have a negative impact on the classroom."