Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland visited campus yesterday to promote a proposal to cap tuition rates at public universities that would compel Ohio University to make difficult decisions to curb a mounting debt crisis.
Strickland did not meet privately with university officials, but fielding press questions after a tour of Vernon R. Alden library, he said he understood the gravity of his proposal.
Not every school is going to like my budget
Strickland said. I'm willing to take the heat.
Strickland proposed a compact in his budget that awards increased state funding to universities that pledge to not raise tuition next year. University officials have said the compact would leave them with less money than raising tuition.
Officials have also indicated there might be potential political ramifications from not joining the compact.
We're going to look at this from the standpoint certainly of what's in the best interest of the university but we're not going to be politically na+ OU President Roderick McDavis said in a March 30 Post article. We understand that our decision can have political impact as well.
Last Friday, McDavis proposed a balanced budget that includes freezing tuition rates and tapping into funds previously reserved for Vision Ohio. The budget proposed to the Budget Planning Council reduces administrative unit costs by an average 3.6 percent and academic units an average 1.6 percent. It also proposes shifting $1.5 million in health care costs to employees.
Next year, Athens campus revenue is expected to increase $1.68 million, but growing costs up to $10.23 million will result in a $8.55 million budget deficit if the Board of Trustees approves the budget.
The Board of Trustees, which has requested the university balance the budget this year, will debate the proposal at its April 19 meeting but will not approve a final budget until its June meeting. As it stands, the university has not officially decided if they will join the compact, McDavis said.
Joining the compact will net the university about $3 million next year and less than $900,000 the following year. A 3 percent tuition raise would generate $4.2 million while a 6 percent raise would generate $8.4 million in revenue.
I'm not an intimidating person
Strickland said. (The proposal) will require difficult choices.
Eric Fingerhut, the newly elected chancellor of the Board of Regents, said Strickland's proposal is just a start.
It's now a process of negotiations
he said.
Strickland's proposal, part of the state budget, is being debated on the legislative floor in Columbus. University officials expect the budget to be finalized by June.
Flanked by Fingerhut and Rep. Jimmy Stewart, R-Athens, Strickland toured the second floor of Alden Library as the university paraded scholarship award winners and a multimedia presentation about Second Life, an online community.
This is a great university
Strickland, a southern Ohio native, said, wearing a green tie specifically for the occasion. I do have a bias.
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