COLUMBIA, Mo. – Outgoing University of Missouri Chancellor Brady Deaton expressed concern on Monday for the potential impact of cutting public funds from public education institutions.

In remarks delivered at his retirement party, Deaton – the university’s 21st chief executive officer – said while he certainly appreciates the boost from donor-based capital campaigns, he believes nothing can compare to strong public financial support.

“What we wanted planted very deeply is the clear notion that private funds coming into a public land-grant university are intended to build the margin of excellence on a very solid base provided by the public,” he said. “Without that, democracy as we know it in the world is under threat.”

“We have to have the basic support to ensure we educate the leaders of tomorrow, the citizens who understand public policy, and the powerful role of a private sector,” he continued. “It’s that unique land-grant mission and the extension outreach into every county in the state that will ensure that the citizens of this state join with us and we can embrace them in a common pursuit of what is the public good for the state of Missouri.”

His remarks came more than a week after Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon announced new plans to increase funding for public schools and universities, which have faced years of uncertain funding since the financial crisis of 2008. Higher education funding in Missouri is down nearly $98 million since Nixon’s first year in office.

In its most recent budget, the Missouri Department of Higher Education requested nearly $100 million less than the state spent on colleges and universities four years ago.

In Nixon’s remarks last month, he praised schools, like the University of Missouri, which have found ways to cut spending in tough budget years, and pledged funding to help encourage more efficiencies.

“We want to put more dollars in the hands of more students and refine these programs to make sure they really pack a punch for our economy,” he said at the time.

At the event on Monday, local lawmakers lauded Deaton for how he handled the recent budget crunch. Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Kurt Schafer, R-Columbia, praised Deaton as the successful “captain of this ship in one of the worst economic times our state has seen in a long time,” adding that he believes nobody knows as hard as the budget crunch was except Deaton.