The House and Senate are about $148 million apart on proposed funding for higher education with the major difference being where each body’s plan draws the line on providing tuition freeze assistance to students.
The conference committee on the omnibus higher education finance bill (HF845/SF5*) met for the first time Tuesday with an overview of the spending and language provisions each side is bringing to the table. No action was taken.
Rep. Bud Nornes (R-Fergus Falls) and Sen. Terri Bonoff (DFL-Minnetonka) sponsor the bills.
The House plan includes $2.95 billion in 2016-17 biennial spending which amounts to a nearly $56.8 million increase from the forecasted base. Most of that increase would be dedicated to covering a partial tuition freeze for students attending colleges and universities in the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system. Students attending two-year state colleges would receive a tuition freeze in the first year of biennium and receive a 1 percent reduction in tuition for the second year. Students attending four-year MnSCU schools would receive a tuition relief in the second year only.
The House would dedicate nearly $396 million to the Office of Higher Education, while $1.35 billion would be appropriated to MnSCU (a $105.31 million increase) and $1.2 billion for the University of Minnesota (a $2.9 million increase). Under the House plan, the university would not receive the $65.2 million in state funding officials say it needs to ensure a tuition freeze for students at all five of its campuses.
The Senate plan includes $3.1 billion in total spending over the next two years with $504.2 million for the Office of Higher Education, $1.3 billion for MnSCU and $1.29 billion for the university. The plan would appropriate $60 million for university tuition relief and provide free tuition to many technical college students who maintain at least a 2.5 grade-point average and participate in a mentor program.
Gov. Mark Dayton’s higher education proposed funding budget calls for nearly $3.1 billion in upcoming biennial spending, which he said would cover full tuition freezes for both systems.
Difference in state grant program spending
While the House bill would reallocate $53 million in existing state grant program funds to help cover the cost of a tuition freeze for MnSCU students, the Senate would provide nearly $20 million in additional state grant dollars, which are available to all college students attending accredited post-secondary programs in Minnesota.
Other policies and/or provisions proposed by the House that are not in the Senate bill include:
Changes proposed by the Senate that are not in the House bill include: