I will never understand why politicians always start cutting budgets with education. It is like smashing your hen's eggs because you afford to feed the horse.
When it's time for unwanted budget cuts, politicians cut the most visible services first. This way they can create the biggest pushback from the unwanted budget cuts and go right back to spending what they wanted. Also they can avoid scrutiny of the wasteful areas that they support. Win/win.
For instance, several years ago the State agencies all got a percentage-basis budget cut. Some chose to implement furloughs to make the cut. This had a bigger impact than reducing other operational expenses... the employees were furious about having their pay cut. They'd be madder if they'd all known about the way it affected their retirement contributions.
But some of the bigger agencies seemed to drag on and on with the furlough days. There were no furlough days in the following year.