Friday News Roundup: Week of June18-22

Mississippi’s public colleges seek $72 million more

Pennsylvania state House panel acts to restore college spending cuts in budget

New Mexico state spending on special education to drop by $7M

New Jersey Democrats introduce budget, but some lawmakers threaten not to vote

Mississippi’s public colleges seek $72 million more
Mississippi Commissioner of Higher Education Hank Bounds this week asked the state’s College Board to consider additional funding for public colleges in fiscal year 2014. Next year’s 2013 budget will cut spending for state universities by $32 million below 2012 levels, meaning schools will receive $670 million for the fiscal year beginning July 1. According to the schools, though, they will require $72.4 million in additional funds in the following year to increase compensation for faculty and cover increasing pension costs. Bounds stated that Mississippi’s salaries for university faculty members have dropped below those at other schools in the region. As a result, as much as $40 million of the additional funds would be directed to instructor salaries. Legislators will begin writing the fiscal year 2014 budget this fall. More here…

Pennsylvania state House panel acts to restore college spending cuts in budget
Pennsylvania lawmakers are working this week to complete the state’s fiscal year 2013 budget. State universities may be spared the deep budget cuts they faced last year. The budget, which totals $27.7 billion, eliminates a 30 percent funding cut Governor Tom Corbett had recommended for three state universities – University of Pittsburgh, Penn State University, and Temple University – and a 20 percent cut for 14 other state colleges. Instead, all of those schools will receive the same funding level as in fiscal year 2012. The agreement between the governor and the House would also provide $25 million in additional funding for the Educational Improvement Tax Credit, which received $75 million in funding in 2012. A spokesman in the governor’s office said the change is due to higher-than-expected revenue intake. The total spending level in the House plan matches that in the Senate budget passed last month, and exceeds the governor’s proposal by over $500 million. More here…

New Mexico state spending on special education to drop by $7M
According to New Mexico’s Public Education Department, the state’s spending on special education in fiscal year 2013 will drop by over $7 million from fiscal year 2012 levels due to decreases in the reported number of special education students. The state’s total enrollment has not shifted much over the past year, so officials are chalking at least some of the cost reductions up to improved data reported by school districts. School districts in the state receive funding based on student enrollment, with an additional per-student amount tacked on for each reported special education student or English language learner. The state began an audit of student enrollment in special populations last year, examining nine school districts and one charter school in-depth to determine whether their reporting numbers were accurate. After the audit, for which the results were released last week, state officials reported $4 million in questionable or undocumented spending of special education funds, in violation of state laws requiring that special education funds be used for specific purposes. More here…

New Jersey Democrats introduce budget, but some lawmakers threaten not to vote
Democrats in the New Jersey state Assembly this week introduced a fiscal year 2013 budget proposal totaling $31.7 billion. The 2013 budget has been controversial this year in large part because of conflicting views on taxes – Republican Governor Chris Christie wants to cut income taxes, while Democrats in the legislature would provide tax credits based on taxpayers’ property taxes. But Christie’s proposed reorganization and consolidation of several of the state’s universities has also played a part in the turmoil. The plan seems likely to pass the legislature since tweaks brought anticipated costs down from over $1 billion to $40 million. But nine Democrats this week signed a letter to the Speaker threatening to withhold their votes unless Christie’s higher education plan is delayed until later this year. The Democrats’ slim majority in the Assembly means they need those lawmakers’ votes to pass a budget.  More here…