Gov. Rick Snyder recommended Wednesday an increase in higher education funding and asked universities to place caps on their tuitions.
In his 2016 fiscal year executive budget recommendation, Snyder, along with Lt. Gov. Brian Calley and state budget director John Roberts, outlined the proposed budget in a joint session of the state’s House of Representatives and Senate appropriations committees.
The driving theme of Snyder’s budget proposal for the upcoming year was the growing strength of Michigan.
Although Snyder’s first budget recommendation when he assumed office called for deep cuts in higher education appropriations, and MSU’s funding decreased 15 percent, the budget presented by Snyder on Wednesday would benefit higher education funding with a slight increase on the amount of money allocated for universities.
The budget allocates $28 million for the operation of public universities and $4.3 million for community college operations.
“I am proud of this budget and all the ways we are focused on creating an even stronger Michigan,” Snyder said. “It reflects an emphasis on areas I know we cannot only improve upon, but lead the nation.”
Snyder’s administration will work with $532 million less revenue in the 2016 fiscal budget because of $224 million worth of tax credits cashed by an unidentified business in December.
The budget recommendation also calls for universities to place limitations in tuition increases to 2.8 percent or less in order to receive the funding increase.
In 2014, MSU Board of Trustees approved a raise in tuition by 2.8 percent — the fifth consecutive tuition increase made by the board.
Snyder’s recommendation also includes $500,000 for the prevention of sexual assaults on college campuses — MSU and University of Michigan are part of a federal investigation conducated by the Department of Education for mishandling sexual assault complaints and violating Title IX.
State Rep. Sam Singh, D-East Lansing, said the slight increase in higher education funding is a positive one.
“I do think for higher education there is some good news, some small increases to higher education,” Singh said. “That would come with a tuition gap and that should be beneficial to students as well.”
Singh said Snyder fell short on addressing student debt, however.
“The unfortunate part is the governor did not talk about any long term solution to college debt, did not talk about any long term solution to get these universities back to where they were before 2011,” Singh said.
The average student debt in Michigan is $29,583, and 46 percent of 2013 MSU graduates were left with an average debt of $25,821, according to The Institute for College Access and Success.
Many of Snyder’s proposals benefited not just higher education, but also students of all ages.
K-12 education appropriations would see an increase of $11.9 billion.
“Some people may say we do not have the funding to afford this,” Snyder said to members of legislature. “I say we can’t afford not to do this.”
Snyder described the next few years as “critically important to the future of the state” and noted the “exciting” condition of the economy.
Snyder cited an increase in home values and a decrease in unemployment as job revenue increased overall. He said the average personal income is forecasted to increase in 2015 and 2016.
On infrastructure, Snyder recommended $113 million to fix the state’s roads.
For what could “help bridge the talent gap,” Snyder recommended $83 million for skilled trades to develop and increase a skilled workforce.
“In partnership with the legislature, I look forward to again getting the budget done early so that schools, local government and others depending on state funding can have the information they need to plan their budgets,” Snyder said.
