Idaho higher education budget further cuts state support

BOISE (AP) - Idaho's public universities are expected to rely more heavily on student tuition and fees next year, with state funding for higher education poised to further decline.

Lawmakers set a higher education budget Friday that includes $396.7 million in total funding for Idaho's public universities next year. While that's up $19 million in total funding compared to this year, the plan wields a $7.6 million cut in state general funds and brings state support for higher education to its lowest level in more than a decade.

That means the University of Idaho, Boise State University, Idaho State University and Lewis-Clark State College will have to lean further on dedicated funds, which are primarily of student tuition and fees. Idaho's public universities are already charging students between 8.75 percent to 9.5 percent more in tuition and fees compared to the previous year.

The state Board of Education typically meets in April to set student fees for the following year.

"I think there's no doubt the institutions are going to need additional fees, if nothing else, to cover enrollment growth," said board executive director Mike Rush.

Gov. Butch Otter's recommended budget for next year allocated $214.6 million in state general funds for higher education, the lowest level of state support since 2003.

But Idaho's budget outlook has worsened since the governor's recommendation came out in early January and lawmakers on the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee decided to set a budget that further reduces state support for higher education to $209.8 million, the lowest level of since 2000.

Republican leaders of the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee endorsed a plan that would have cut state general funds about $1.5 million further to help balance Idaho's budget, which carries an estimated shortfall of nearly $92 million shortfall in the upcoming fiscal year.

Sen. Dean Cameron co-chairs the committee and reasoned that state general funds made up a small portion of the total money available to Idaho's public universities, which can access to federal grants. The schools have also built up some $170 million in reserves, though officials say about $94 million of that money is tied up in contract obligations.

"They are much more able to adapt, to work through this, than any of the other agencies we're setting budgets for," said Cameron, R-Rupert.

But the proposal carrying a $9.2 million cut in state general funds narrowly failed before lawmakers agreed to the smaller, $7.6 million cut.