Governor Jay Nixon (D) says if his budget request for a $56-million increase in higher education performance funding isn’t restored, Missouri colleges and universities will be forced to raise tuition. Nixon is visiting some of Missouri’s colleges to garner support for his budget plan.
Governor Jay Nixon
“The best economic development tool we have is education and affordable higher education is a key part of that,” said Nixon. “Instead of getting debt when you graduate, what you need to get is opportunities.”
“We have the money to spend this year and it’s time we invest in the priorities we have, education. The $150 million for K-12 and the $56 million for higher education. The $56 million would specifically guarantee a tuition freeze,” said Nixon.
The House reduced that increase to 2% for all colleges and universities except the University of Missouri, for which it proposed no performance-based increase. That two-percent increase would only be funded if revenue increases as much as Nixon predicts. Nixon’s revenue estimate is higher than what the House based its budget on.
Dan Patterson of KRES contributed to this story.
