"Tough choices and changes have to be made," Gov. Butch Otter told lawmakers, including for higher education. "Higher education does have some built-in constituencies that can provide alternatives to a higher level of general fund support," he said. That's not likely what higher education advocates want to hear; Idaho's higher-ed system has been hit with big budget cuts for several years running. Otter's proposed budget for next year calls for another 1.3 percent cut in state general funds for colleges and universities, and a 1.7 percent cut for community colleges. In total funds, colleges and universities would end up with 6.4 percent more than this year, while community colleges would have 3.5 percent less.