Higher education leaders are smiling after this legislative session. Utah's public colleges and universities walked away with the largest increase in state funding in almost a dozen years.

The increases ring out at about $57.7 million over last year's funding.

"We feel very good," said Richard Kendell, state commissioner of higher education "The legislature has treated us very well . . . and we had real advocates on our committee, which was very helpful."

He said this year Utah System of Higher Education goals didn't really have any glamor issues — just funding goals.

The main priority was pay increases — something they hadn't seen in a number of years. Faculty and staff received a 2.5 percent increase along with more money for health and dental insurance.

Lawmakers also gave the green light for $48 million in one-time and ongoing funds that would renovate and expand the Marriott Library at the University of Utah — a project that was the Board of Regents' top priority.

The building will be getting some structure and seismic fixes as well as a technological renovation.

"I am thrilled about our library, I think in many ways it is the centerpiece of the libraries of higher education in this state," said U. President Michael Young. "Those changes just have to occur to enable us to train students for the jobs that they are going to be launched into over the next couple of decades."

Dixie State College got $15.7 million in funds for a new health sciences building, Southern Utah University got $10 million for a teacher education building, and Bridgerland College of Applied Technology in Logan will be adding another building for $3.6 million.

Another victory was the reinstatement of operation and maintenance money for fuel and power for all school buildings, regardless whether the state or private donors built them. That money was taken away last year was compensated for this session along with about $5 million to ensure the lights stay on.

Kendell said that's a big deal when public higher education owns 68 percent of all state buildings. With rising costs schools were forced to raid other budgets to keep up.

Utah College of Applied Technology also got additional money for "Jobs Now" programs. More jobs in certain skill areas are available in this state than UCAT can train people for — the money will be used to hire more faculty for six regions served by UCAT.

Spokesman for USHE Dave Buhler said even with the funding increases schools will still be a far cry from rolling in the dough. In past years unfunded growth has led to tuition increases, budget cuts and reallocations.

But it does mean tuition increases won't be in the double digits.

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E-mail: terickson@desnews.com