OLYMPIA — College students can count on paying more for their education next fall.
How much more is under debate.
On Tuesday Gov. Chris Gregoire called for increasing tuition 14 percent at universities and 7 percent at community and technical colleges to avert drastic program cuts and layoffs in the state’s higher education institutions. The increases would occur in each of the next two years.
The Legislature is expected to slash hundreds of millions of dollars from higher education to help erase a $9 billion shortfall predicted in the next two-year state budget.
Brandon Scheller, the Washington State University student body president, who is from Marysville, said students seem more concerned about the impact of budget reductions on higher education than they are worried about paying higher tuition.
“A lot of students are upset about the potential cuts that could happen,” he said. “I think the bigger concern is what the budget cuts would look like and what they could potentially do to academics here.”
The governor is dropping her previous suggestion to generate money by levying a surcharge on tuition for the next two years. She is backing a tuition increase that exceeds the amounts under consideration in the House and the Senate.
Senate Democrats propose preserving existing caps on tuition hikes at 7 percent for four-year colleges and 5 percent for two-year schools. House Democrats have proposed 10 percent and 7 percent, respectively.
Differences will be reconciled in negotiations on a final budget, which is expected to be acted on by lawmakers before the 2009 session’s scheduled end April 26.
Reporter Jerry Cornfield: 360-352-8623, jcornfield@heraldnet.com.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
