House budget proposal endangers tuition freeze

DES MOINES - Tuition freezes at Iowa's public universities may be in danger under funding proposals announced Thursday by lawmakers.

Officials representing the University of Iowa and the University of Northern Iowa declined to rule out tuition increases in light of post-high school education funding proposals released by Iowa House Republicans during a budget hearing at the Iowa Capitol.

'We asked for a 1.75 percent inflationary increase. If an inflationary increase isn't provided, I think our board will discuss where to go forward,” Keith Saunders, a state relations officer for the UI, told legislators after being asked about the tuition freeze.

Gov. Terry Branstad and some lawmakers are seeking a third consecutive year of no tuition increases at Iowa's three regent universities - UI, UNI and Iowa State University - although tuition rates are set by the Board of Regents.

The plan could be disrupted by the House Republican budget proposal, which provides no funding increase for the universities in the coming fiscal year.

'I would assume the agreement of a tuition freeze is off the table,” said Rep. Cindy Winckler, D-Davenport.

House Republicans budgeted $978 million for higher education. That would be an $8.5 million reduction.

The House Republican proposal is $48 million less than Senate Democrats' proposal and $45 million less than recommended by Branstad.

Branstad and Senate Democrats both included increases in their budget proposals.

Winckler said she expects news of the 'woefully inadequate” Republican budget proposal to send 'shock waves” through the state.

'The zero increase for higher education in both community colleges and the regent universities is a sad message to send across the state that education is our top priority,” Winckler said. 'When we couple the conversations about a lack of agreement with (K-through-12 education funding) with the underfunding that is reflected in this budget, I think this is a sad representation of what the (Republican) Party feels education should look like.”

A representative of Iowa's community colleges said the House Republican proposal also could affect those schools.

Steve Ovel, with the Iowa Association of Community College Trustees, said the proposal could lead to layoffs, furloughs and fewer degree programs.

However, Rep. Cecil Dolecheck, R-Mount Ayr, said the Republicans' proposal fits into a tight state budget.

And House Speaker Kraig Paulsen, R-Hiawatha, said he thinks state universities could freeze tuition again even under the House proposal.

'I'm not so sure they're not in a position to do a tuition freeze regardless of whatever the state appropriation is,” Paulsen told reporters.

At the conclusion of Thursday's hearing, the House Education Appropriations Subcommittee approved the Republicans' higher education budget proposal on a 5-4 party-line vote.