Governor Jay Nixon has proposed raising state funding for schools this week in Missouri. While Governor Nixon is proposing freezes on the tuition of the public universities in Missouri, he wants to increase the funding for schools as well. In fact, Nixon has made a budget increase recommendation of $36.7 million for next year. He is also recommending that the four year public schools freeze the tuition for those students that are still undergrads for the 2014-2015 school year. The governor made the announcement at the University of Springfield, with a continuing education plan that is geared towards keeping college affordable.
Nixon wants schools to help keep the plans going and try to improve the entire education lineup. Missouri has been able to have some success t keeping colleges and universities affordable. “Nothing will have a greater impact on the future of our economy, and our state, than the commitment we make now to education,” said a statement by Nixon. The operating budget that started in July for Missouri will give colleges and universities that are public an extra $25 million, but the schools have to earn it. It is based upon student retention and what percentage of the student body are actually graduating. The governor also proposed a five percent increase for the budget for next year, but it would also be based upon performance of the school.
This is not something brand new in Missouri. Nixon and some public universities froze tuition rates for Missouri residents in the 2010-2011 academic year. In return, the governor promised that they would receive no more than $50 million in state budget cuts. Ken Dobbins, President of Southeast Missouri State University, Dobbins said that the university’s budget committee is recommending tuition increases in the budget priorities and that this announcement may change things. “The significant increase will allow the committee to not only balance our budget without increasing instate student fees, but will also allow us to address other needs such as starting and expanding academic programs needed in our state, and working on the reduction of the deferred maintenance backlog,” Dobbins said.