Saturday, April 28, 2007
Republicans say YSU would get true increases of 2 percent and 10 percent.
By HAROLD GWIN
VINDICATOR EDUCATION WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- A spokeswoman for Ohio House Speaker Jon Husted said Youngstown State University wouldn't be penalized under a state Republican version of a new state budget unveiled this week.
Contrary to some reports, the additional funding proposed by Republicans wouldn't be channeled through the state's traditional State Share of Instruction Formula, said Karen Tabor, speaking for Husted, a Republican from Kettering.
State colleges and universities would be guaranteed a true percentage increase in their annual state subsidy, she said.
State Sen. John Boccieri of New Middletown, D-33rd, had expressed concern Thursday that the Republican funding would be run through the Instruction Formula, which penalizes YSU because it has a disproportionate number of undergraduate students as opposed to graduate students.
YSU gets an average of 25 percent less per student than other state-run institutions because of that, despite having the lowest operating costs and the lowest tuition, he said.
However, YSU President David C. Sweet said it was his understanding that the Republican version of the budget wouldn't be channeled through the old funding formula, and Tabor confirmed that.
What Tabor said
State schools will get a guarantee of 100 percent of this year's funding with a true 2 percent increase in 2007-08 and a true 10 percent increase on top of that in 2008-09, provided that they agree to no more than a 3 percent tuition increase in 2007-08 and no increase the following year, Tabor said.
"The added funding is good news in my book," Sweet said.
Boccieri said he supports Gov. Ted Strickland's plan to offer state schools a true 5 percent increase in 2007-08 followed by a true 2 percent increase in 2008-09 in exchange for a promise not to raise tuition at all in 2007-08 and by no more than 3 percent the following year.
State Rep. Robert Hagan of Youngstown, D-60th, a member of the House Finance Committee, said members of Strickland's staff have indicated to him that they are happy with the Republican proposal."I know it helps YSU," he said.
A spokesman for Strickland said the governor is still assessing the Republican proposal, and just how the funding will come through is still unclear.
Boccieri said he spoke with the governor's budget office late Friday and was told they believe the Republican funding will be run through the state formula.
Tabor said the issue is expected to be voted out of committee this weekend and be up for debate on the House floor Tuesday.
gwin@vindy.com