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Crist Backs Increasing Tuition Rates

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By ADAM EMERSON

aemerson@tampatrib.com

Published: November 21, 2008

Florida families likely will have to open up their wallets wider when they pay their college tuition bills next fall, even if they have a state-paid scholarship that long has covered the costs.

Gov. Charlie Crist said Thursday that he supports allowing the state's 11 public universities to raise tuition by up to 15 percent each year. Most of that increase, which must be approved by the Legislature, would be borne by students.

Lawmakers would set a base tuition for all universities, but Crist's plan would empower each school to raise costs up to the 15 percent ceiling as they saw fit. If they all did, the increase for the average student would total nearly $200 each semester for the first year.

The amount that exceeds the base wouldn't be covered by the state's popular Bright Futures scholarship, which has covered tuition and fees for qualified students.

The extra cost is a small price to pay, school leaders say. Florida's public universities charge the lowest tuition in the nation, and their lack of revenue has driven them to cut millions from their budget as the state economy soured.

Some schools, including the University of South Florida, already have the power to increase tuition by up to 15 percent. Crist's plan could generate more than $500 million in new revenue for all schools during the next seven years.

"This deals with the most fundamental problem we have, which is a chronic shortage of adequate funding," said Bill Edmonds, spokesman for the university system.

With this move, Crist backs off his long-held desire to keep tuition lower for Florida families. University leaders, however, have argued aggressively that their system's status as the nation's cheapest was hastening its descent into mediocrity.

But because the national average goes up every year, the governor's plan won't put costs at Florida universities at that level for at least eight more years, Edmonds said. The current national average is $6,600.

Lawmakers have kept tuition low for years, and the university system fought back in 2007 by joining a lawsuit designed to wrest away the Legislature's tuition-setting power. The governor did not address the lawsuit in his announcement, and Edmonds could not say what will happen to it.

WHAT IT MEANS

If Gov. Charlie Crist gets his way, Florida families could pay as much as 15 percent more if their children attend any of the state's 11 public universities. Some highlights of his plan, which he announced Thursday:

$200

Increase in the cost each semester for the average student for the first year.

Much of the increase would not be covered by the state-backed Bright Futures scholarship.

15%

The percentage of annual increases won't put Florida's universities at the national average of tuition for at least eight more years

30%

The amount of increased revenue needed to support financial aid for students who need it.

Reporter Adam Emerson can be reached at (813) 259-8285.

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