College tuition likely won't take a big jump

Utah's System of Higher Education was handed yet another budget cut following Thursday's final appropriations committee meeting, but students will be relieved that tuition won't be used to make up for the shortfall.

The system is to move forward with 85 percent of its originally earmarked state funding, but committee members approved just a .5 percent increase on first-tier tuition, giving schools individual jurisdiction to increase second-tier tuition as necessary.

"There is a strong interest in keeping tuition as low as possible," said USHE Commissioner William A. Sederburg, adding that the expected increase will be kept within the average of the past five years. Tuition makes up only a portion of college and university operating budgets, which rely on state funding to keep above water.

What was a more than $1.2 billion base budget has been chipped away at since September, resulting in an ongoing budget of just over $690 million for all 10 of Utah's public colleges and universities. Funding for institutional operations comes from three sources: the state's general fund, the Uniform School Fund and the education fund, essentially all taxpayer money. Due to revenue shortfalls and the current economic situation, lawmakers have been forced to slice budgets to reflect available monies.

"In the Legislature, there are good days and there are bad days. This is not one of those good days," said committee Chairman Rep. Kory Holdaway, R-Taylorsville. "Given the realities of where we're at, we've got to balance the budget."

On Thursday, the committee was asked to approve another 7.5 percent cut, which comes in addition to a 4 percent cut in September and a 7.2 percent cut resulting in HB3 last week. Compiled, the cuts amount to approximately 19 percent of the fiscal year 2009 budget, according to the legislative fiscal analyst's office.

"It's a tough prospect," said Rep. Kay McIff, R-Richfield. "No one's going to lose a full child, but each child is going to lose one arm." He said each institution will have to find a way to deal with the cuts as best it can.

Committee members sent their approved budget along to the Executive Appropriations Committee, with a caveat that the group look at sources for alternative funding, such as bonding opportunities and rainy-day fund availability.

Sederburg said that although he does not support the additional cuts, he understands that conditions warrant them.

E-MAIL: wleonard@desnews.com