2008-09 State Budgets and Higher Education

Late spring and early summer means budget season in many states, as legislators work on governors' budget proposals or adjust their state's biennial budget as revenue projections change. This spring, 29 states are setting their annual budgets, 3 are beginning their biennial budget cycle, and 18 are in the middle of their biennial budget. Although the states are all on different budget cycles, one thing that is uniting many states is tighter finances for the 2009 fiscal year.

The National Conference of State Legislatures reported in April that 23 states will face budget shortfalls totaling more than $26 billion for the 2009 fiscal year and that 16 states are facing about $12 billion in current year budget shortfalls. Projected shortfalls for 2009 range up to almost 21 percent in Arizona, although the highest shortfall in absolute terms will be in California, where the shortfall is expected to reach over $15 billion in the upcoming fiscal year.

States are pursuing all kinds of strategies to close holes and balance their budgets, including temporarily under-funding pensions, delaying debt payments, utilizing rainy day funds, and increasing taxes on items such as cigarettes. Of course, states are also cutting spending wherever possible, including higher education. Below is a sampling of state budget situations as reported by newspapers and government websites, and the effects of the budget situations on funding for higher education.

Alabama
Alabama adjourned its 2008 regular legislative session without approving an education budget for the upcoming fiscal year, forcing Gov. Bob Riley to call a special session to pass an education budget. Riley's original proposal for 2009 included budget cuts of over 13 percent for four-year institutions and 9 percent for two-year institutions that would have meant a loss of $130 million between Auburn University and the University of Alabama and a loss of almost $43 million for the state's two-year institutions. Riley's proposal, which first went to the House, saw representatives add $30 million in funding for four-year institutions and $7.4 million in funding for two-year institutions. Once in the Senate though, the budget stalled as key senators wanted to add an additional $25 million for higher education and higher education lobbyists were unwilling to only accept a conditional appropriation for that amount.

In the special session, legislative leaders failed to restore the $25 million in question for higher education. Instead, the budget that was passed cut $5 million from higher education and redirected the money to K-12 transportation costs. The final budget resulted in a $156.6 million cut to higher education, an 11.2 percent reduction in state support. The University of Alabama is planning to cut 300 jobs and cancel construction projects to cope with the budget cuts.
Montgomery Advertiser, March 23, 2008 and June 1, 2008
Press-Register, April 17, 2008
The Birmingham News, May 2, 2008 and June 5, 2008
The Huntsville Times, May 21, 2008

Alaska
State lawmakers increased the University of Alaska's operating budget 7 percent from last year's and are funding the university system in a single appropriation, as opposed to funding institutions individually. The change was utilized as a means to insulate the management of the system from politics. The state also allocated $48 million in the capital budget for deferred maintenance, up from $12 million, and $73 million for new construction projects.
The Daily News-Miner, April 17, 2008

Arizona
In April, Gov. Janet Napolitano endorsed the legislature's plan to cope with an estimated $1.2 billion hole in the state's current fiscal year budget. The plan avoided most cuts by tapping into reserves and pushing some payments into the next fiscal year, but higher education was not spared. State universities under control of the board of regents (the University of Arizona, Arizona State University, and Northern Arizona University) were asked to reduce spending by a combined $14.7 million. The reduction had been anticipated by the universities, which had been leaving many positions unfilled.

For the 2009 fiscal year, the state is looking at a nearly $2.2 billion deficit plus almost $300 million in payments that have been deferred from 2008. Early projections by the board of regents, based on a smaller budget deficit, were that the state universities would lose a combined $100 million in funding.

Update:Lawmakers approved a budget on June 26 that will borrow about $1 billion to mitigate spending cuts. Under the budget passed by the legislature, community colleges will lose $5.5 million in operational funding and $20 million in capital funding while the state's universities will lose a combined $50 million.
East Valley Tribune, April 17, 2008
Arizona Daily Star, April 24, 2008 and June 4, 2008
The Arizona Republic, June 27, 2008

Arkansas
Arkansas is facing a projected $107 million decrease in revenue for the second annual budget of its biennial cycle, meaning that the state's $4 billion budget will be cut. Higher education stands to lose about $32 million, although cuts likely won't be finalized until October. Among colleges and universities identified, the University of Arkansas stands to lose $4.7 million, the University of Central Arkansas $2.2 million, and Northwest Arkansas Community College $1 million.
The Morning News, April 9, 2008
The Daily Citizen, June 8, 2008

California
A projected $15.2 billion deficit in a $144.2 billion budget for the upcoming year prompted Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to propose borrowing against future profits of the state lottery in order to ease spending cuts. The governor's most recent budget proposal would also restore $196 million to the University of California and California State University that had been cut in earlier budget proposals, resulting in roughly flat funding from 2007-08 at the University of California. At California State University, the funding restoration would still leave the system with a $288 million funding reduction while it faces $124 million in mandatory cost increases.
San Francisco Gate, May 14, 2008
Sacramento Bee, May 20, 2008
California State University, May 14, 2008
University of California, May 15, 2008

Colorado
Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter signed the state's $18.4 billion budget for the 2009 fiscal year into law in April. The budget includes an increase in higher education funding of over $65 million, or 9 percent, on the heels of a 7.5 percent increase in the 2008 fiscal year as the state reverses years of declines in higher education funding.
Rocky Mountain News, April 29, 2008

Connecticut
Gov. Jodi Rell reversed course in June and decided cut $160 million from state agencies' budgets to avert a deficit. The University of Connecticut will lose $6.7 million as a result of the cuts. Earlier this spring, Rell and the General Assembly had decided not to make cuts to the previously approved budget despite lowering 2009 revenue projections.
The Hartford Courant, May 5, 2008 and June 25, 2008

Delaware
The $3.4 billion budget proposed by Gov. Ruth Ann Minner in January called for a spending increase of $125 million over the current year, but recent estimates are that the state would face a $217 million shortfall under Minner's budget. A joint committee currently working on eliminating the shortfall has cut 1 percent, or $2.4 million, from higher education's share of the budget.
The Review, April 29, 2008
The News Journal, May 21, 2008 and June 5, 2008

Florida
The Florida Legislature approved a $66.2 billion budget for 2009 in May, a sharp reduction from 2008's almost $72 billion budget. However, the $72 billion budget faced mid-year cuts totaling $1.6 billion due to slumping revenue. Revenue projections have continued to shrink, and state revenue projections for 2009 have dropped by $3 billion from earlier this spring.

The University of Florida faces a $47 million budget cut for the upcoming year over and above a mid-year $22 million cut this past October. It has already begun to reduce undergraduate enrollment in response to the 2009 cuts, cutting this fall's transfer student enrollment by 1,000 students and reducing enrollment by an additional 3,000 students over the next 3 years. The university has also outlined on its website its plan for paring the budget, a plan which includes laying off 130 faculty and staff and keeping 290 currently open positions vacant. Florida State University is coping with its $32 million loss by reducing enrollment by 2,000 students and reducing its general budget by 9.5 percent.

Among other state universities, the University of South Florida (USF) has lost $17 million in the current fiscal year and will lose $19 million in the upcoming year, Florida International University (FIU) has lost $10.4 million in the current fiscal year and will lose $11.9 million in the upcoming year, and Florida Atlantic University (FAU) faces a $9.6 million cut for 2009. USF is also cutting an additional $15 million from its budget in anticipation of mid-year cuts by the state in the upcoming fiscal year. The state funding cuts have meant that USF will lay off 70 employees and keep 380 current openings vacant, including 170 faculty positions. At FIU, which is planning for a $36 million reduction over the next 3 years, 17 degree programs will be cut and 176 employees will be laid off. For FAU, the cuts mean that 34 employees will be laid off, 100 current openings will remain vacant, and some degree programs at satellite campuses will be terminated.

Other higher education programs were not spared either. A state matching funds program for higher education that received $74 million last year received no funding for the upcoming fiscal year. Tuition increases will only be able to mitigate a small portion of the funding loss, as the board of governors agreed with the legislature to limit tuition increases to 6 percent at state universities for the upcoming academic year. However, the legislature has recently been allowing some universities to charge differential tuition and create new fees to generate revenue.

Update:Just a day after signing the 2009 budget, Gov. Charlie Crist ordered all state agencies, including colleges and universities, to cut spending by an additional 4 percent. While USF planned for such a cut, other state universities will have to determine how to further reduce their budgets.
Gainesville Sun, February 21, 2008
Orlando Sentinel, March 13, 2008
South Florida Sun-Sentinel, May 2, 2008, May 7, 2008, and May 28, 2008
Palm Beach Post, May 4, 2008
Inside UF, May 5, 2008
The Florida Times-Union, May 13, 2008
The Tampa Tribune, May 22, 2008
Florida International University Office of Government Relations
Tallahassee Democrat, June 11, 2008
St. Petersburg Times, June 12, 2008

Hawaii
Concerned over a slowdown in revenue growth, state lawmakers cut Gov. Linda Lingle's proposed 2009 budget this past legislative session. Projections forecasted a 3.9 percent growth in revenue in the state for 2009, but the legislature used a 3.5 percent growth estimate instead. Facilities maintenance at the University of Hawaii survived the legislature's cuts, receiving $71 million.

However, since that budget was approved, revenue projections have soured. At the end of May, the state's Council of Revenues released updated projections calling for a 2 percent growth in revenue, meaning that the state could face a $90 million shortfall in its 2009 budget. Additionally, the council's projections for 2008 forecasted a current-year shortfall of $27 million. In response to the projections, Lingle cut $33 million from the 2009 budget, with $3.9 million of that coming from the University of Hawaii.
Associated Press, April 30, 2008
Honolulu Star-Bulletin, May 30, 2008 and June 25, 2008

Illinois
The Illinois General Assembly passed a $59 billion state budget just before the end of its legislative session in May, representing a 2.1 percent spending increase over the current year. Under the legislative budget, higher education would receive a 2.1 percent increase. However, Gov. Rod Blagojevich has argued that the revenue projections are too optimistic and has met with legislative leaders to close a hole that he estimates at $2.1 billion.

The passed budget is an improvement for higher education over previous proposals. A Senate proposal would have provided higher education with essentially flat funding, and the governor's budget request called for higher education to receive a $170 million increase in state general funds, but to lose $144 million in other state funds, resulting in a less than 1 percent net increase. Under the governor's proposal, state universities would have lost $14 million in state funds and the community college board would have lost $5 million. However, the state universities retirement system would have received a $40 million boost, as the state has focused on reducing pension underfunding.
Daily Herald, May 18, 2008
Chicago Tribune, May 22, 2008
The Quad-City Times, May 23, 2008
The State Journal-Register, May 31, 2008
Rockford Register Star, June 4, 2008
State budget financial review
Governor Blagojevich's 2009 operating budget

Kansas
Gov. Kathleen Sebelius had proposed a $20 million increase in the operating budget for the state's public colleges and universities for the upcoming fiscal year, but the legislature could only guarantee $10 million for the institutions, with the remaining $10 million failing to materialize after updated revenue projections were significantly less than earlier estimates.
Lawrence Journal-World & News, April 21, 2008 and May 3, 2008

Kentucky
With Kentucky facing a projected budget shortfall of approximately $900 million over the next biennium, Gov. Steve Beshear proposed a biennial budget of $18.5 billion, up only 2 percent from the current $18.1 billion biennial budget. Beshear's budget would have cut funding for higher education by 12 percent on top of a 3 percent mid-year cut this fiscal year. However, the final $18.8 billion budget approved by the legislature reduced the 12 percent cut to 3 percent and retained $60 million for the state's "bucks for brains" matching funds program. Since the budget passed, the state budget director asked some state agencies (excluding higher education) to submit plans for an additional 4.5 percent cut, although reductions could be larger or smaller than 4.5 percent.

Between 2008 and 2009, the total cuts in recurring appropriations to Kentucky institutions is $13.5 million at the Kentucky Community and Technical College System, $10.1 million at the University of Louisville, and $20 million at the University of Kentucky.
Inside Higher Ed, February 26, 2008
Courier-Journal, March 17, 2008, April 2, 2008, June 13, 2008, and June 14, 2008
Lexington Herald-Leader, May 16, 2008
University of Kentucky news release, June 17, 2008

Maine
State appropriations to the University of Maine System this year increased by about $300,000 to $185.7 million. The system has responded to the relatively flat funding with tuition increases averaging 10 percent at its seven campuses and has already eliminated 91 positions to reallocate about $6 million in the upcoming fiscal year.
Bangor Daily News, May 20, 2008

Maryland
The University System of Maryland Board of Regents were able to maintain their tuition freeze for in-state undergraduates for a third consecutive year, as the system received a 9.4 percent increase in appropriations. Community colleges also received a 9 percent increase in state appropriations, or $21.2 million. The general fund budget as a whole grew 3.7 percent.
The Baltimore Sun, June 5, 2008
Department of Budget and Management Budget Wrap Up (pdf)

Massachusetts
The House passed a state budget that will increase funding for the University of Massachusetts by 5 percent, or $24.2 million. The budget includes an increase of 3 percent, or $13 million, for community colleges. The Senate largely followed the House's education budget, increasing funding for the University of Massachusetts by 5.6 percent, or $26.4 million. The budget will now go to a conference committee to resolve differences.
The Daily Collegian, May 12, 2008
Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center, May 14, 2008
University of Massachusetts, June 5, 2008

Michigan
The legislature is finishing the state's $44 billion budget, which will increase state support for community colleges by 2 percent and support for state universities by 1 percent. Gov. Jennifer Granholm had proposed a 3 percent increase for the state's colleges and universities in her February budget, but increases were scaled back as the more recent projections used by the legislature call for state revenues to be $400 million less than Granholm projected.
Chicago Tribune, June 6, 2008 and June 11, 2008
Detroit Free Press, June 27, 2008

Minnesota
The Minnesota State Legislature passed the state's biennial budget just before adjournment in May. The state faced a projected deficit of $935 million for the 2008-09 fiscal year alone, but the deficit was eliminated through dipping into state reserves for $500 million, changing the tax structure for international corporations, and making over $300 million in program cuts. Higher education will lose $21.7 million in the 2008-09 fiscal year and $33.5 million in the year following, with the University of Minnesota losing $12.3 million in state support and the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities losing $7.9 million for the 2008-09 fiscal year.
The Star Tribune, May 19, 2008

Mississippi
The legislature approved an increase of $9.8 million for the state's eight public universities, but $1 million of the increase will go to pay for a systemwide audit, which used to be paid for by the state.
Clarion Ledger, May 20, 2008

Missouri
The Missouri General Assembly passed the state's $22.4 billion budget in May, which represents a $957 million increase in spending from the previous year. The University of Missouri System received a 4.2 percent increase in appropriations. Higher education as a whole experienced a 7 percent increase due to state funding for several capital projects and an increase in the state scholarship program, which can be applied to tuition at private institutions.
KWMU, May 6, 2008
The Kansas City Star, May 7, 2008
KMOV, June 1, 2008

Nevada
The state is facing a projected revenue shortfall of $898 million for the current biennial budget running through June 2009, which represents an almost 13 percent deficit. An earlier projection had predicted a shortfall of $565 million, and on that projection Gov. Jim Gibbons had ordered state agencies to cut their spending by 4.5 percent. The Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE), which oversees all of the state's higher education, lost a combined $46.4 million in funding for the 2008 and 2009 fiscal years as a result of the 4.5 percent cut. With the new projection, agencies are being asked to create plans to reduce their spending by 10 to 14 percent in preparation for the 2009-11 biennial budget. In previous biennia, the state budget has increased 15 to 20 percent because of rapid growth, but the upcoming biennial budget will likely only increase by 3 percent.

In response to the governor's request for a plan on how to cut the NSHE budget by 14 percent, James Rogers, NSHE chancellor, released a scathing memorandum highlighting the effects of the budget cut, which would total $96 million on top of the previous cut. He noted that "with three-fourths of the System's hard costs in personnel, accomplishing a change of this magnitude 'on a dime' will not work because of required contractual notice provisions." He also outlined the impact a cut would have on various programs and noted that if he wanted to offset the cut, he would have to increase tuition for every student in the system by $1,500 a year.

Update:In late June, Gov. Jim Gibbons called a special session to address the budget shortfall, which the most recent projections now anticipate to be $1.16 billion.
Las Vegas Review-Journal, April 1, 2008 and June 24, 2008
Associated Press, May 15, 2008
Las Vegas Sun, May 23, 2008

New Hampshire
The state, in the middle of its biennial budget cycle, is projected to have a surplus of $6 million at the end of the current year, but could have a $180 million deficit by the end of next year. To close a potential hole for the end of the current year and into 2009, Gov. John Lynch called a special session in June to allow him to bond school building if needed to balance the budget. Lawmakers will also vote on several ways to raise revenue, including increasing cigarette taxes, to avoid a future shortfall without cutting spending. Earlier this spring, the governor and legislature cut $50 million in 2008 spending and instituted hiring, purchasing, and travel freezes to improve the budget situation. The cuts included $2 million in support for the University of New Hampshire (out of $96 million in state support) and $1 million in support for the state's community colleges (out of $33 million in state support).

Update:Gov. John Lynch and the legislature cut an additional $30 million from the 2009 budget in June, with the University System of New Hampshire losing $2.5 million.
Foster's Daily Democrat, March 17, 2008
Concord Monitor, June 4, 2008 and June 18, 2008

New Jersey
Gov. Jon Corzine's proposed $33 billion budget for 2009 would reduce state spending by $500 million from 2008 spending levels, although the real effects of the budget cuts approach $2.7 billion when taking into account mandatory cost pressures and increases in the school funding formula. Under Corzine's proposal, overall support for higher education would drop by $76 million, to $2.1 billion. The state's senior colleges and universities would have to absorb $63 million of the cuts (just over a 4 percent reduction), with county colleges facing an $11 million drop in support (4.7 percent) and private colleges and universities losing $2 million, or 10 percent.

Budget negotiations with legislators are going on behind closed doors, but it appears that any restoration of funding cuts is likely to go to hospitals and municipalities, which suffered the steepest cuts in Corzine's budget.
State of New Jersey Budget website, May 22, 2008
The Star-Ledger, June 5, 2008

New York
The New York Legislature passed an $80.5 billion state operating fund budget for the upcoming fiscal year that represents a 4.5 percent increase from the current year's budget. Higher education received a 2.7 percent increase for the upcoming year, and also received an $80 million increase in capital funds, 14 percent more than it received last year. In creating the budget, the state confronted a budget gap estimated at $5.2 billion this year, although the state balanced the budget through bonding, using state reserves, and some increased taxes. However, the state is facing a $5 billion budget gap next year that will grow to $8.8 billion by the 2011-12 fiscal year.

Since the budget passed, Gov. David Paterson has directed state agencies, including the State University of New York (SUNY), to cut spending by 3.35 percent due to concern over the economy. The spending cut would mean a loss of $38.8 million for SUNY from state operating funds. More significantly though, the cut includes spending of revenue generated from non-state sources such as tuition and hospital operations, meaning that SUNY would have to cut an additional $109 million in spending. SUNY agreed to the $38.8 million cut, but when asked to submit a plan to the governor detailing the $109 million in cuts, SUNY responded with a proposal to cut $72 million.
New York Times, April 10, 2008
New York State Division of the Budget
Newsday, May 14, 2008
Times Union, May 16, 2008

North Carolina
The state is projecting a budget surplus of $152 million for the current fiscal year, but has revised its economic growth estimates downward for next year from 4.7 percent to 3.5 percent. As a result, the budget being finished in the House (to be passed to the Senate) would increase spending by about 3.2 percent and would only fund $14 million of the University of North Carolina's request for $34 million to cope with increased enrollment at its constituent campuses. However, it is expected that the Senate will allocate an additional $20 million for the university.
News and Observer, May 8, 2008 and June 5, 2008
North Carolina state budget recommended amendments

Ohio
The legislature is working on a bill to resolve a budget hole estimated at $733 million through the end of the 2008-09 fiscal year. The bill will involve eliminating jobs, closing mental hospitals, and increasing gambling revenue. The $733 million hole is the best-case scenario, with worst-case scenarios forecasting a $1.9 billion shortfall. If the shortfall is more than $733 million, the governor plans to use the state's rainy day reserves, leaving higher education largely untouched.
Toledo Blade, January 31, 2008 and May 19, 2008

Oklahoma
Gov. Brad Henry's proposed 2009 budget included a $57 million increase (5.4 percent) for institutions under the control of the board of regents. However, the legislature passed a $7.1 billion standstill budget that will prevent any cuts to state agencies, but will leave most funding (including higher education) at 2008 levels.
Gov. Brad Henry's executive budget
The Oklahoman, April 25, 2008

Oregon
The Legislative Emergency Board recommended holding back $25 million in pay raises for state workers in the upcoming year as revenue projections have decreased by $153 million. The cut will result in a loss of $2.4 million for Oregon State University and $6 million for the Oregon University System.
Corvallis Gazette Times, June 27, 2008

Pennsylvania
Work is just beginning on Gov. Ed Rendell's $28.3 billion 2008-09 general fund budget, which would increase spending by 4.2 percent. His plan would increase funding for the state's community colleges and the State System of Higher Education by 3 percent and increase support for the state-related universities (Penn State, University of Pittsburgh, and Temple and Lincoln universities) by 1.5 percent.
Gov. Ed Rendell's Budget in Brief

Rhode Island
The state cut its 2008 budget by $168 million this spring to cope with a budget deficit, but higher education was largely spared from the mid-year cuts. However, Gov. Donald Carcieri proposed $17.8 million in cuts to higher education for the upcoming fiscal year as he expected a budget deficit of $384 million, which represents 11 percent of state spending. More recent projections are for the budget gap to be $50 to $55 million larger than originally projected, with any additional cuts to higher education as a result of the larger gap still unknown.
Inside Higher Ed, February 26, 2008
The Examiner, May 9, 2008
The Providence Journal, May 10, 2008

South Carolina
The state's $7 billion budget passed by the legislature and approved by Gov. Mark Sanford cuts funding for most state agencies between 2.5 and 5 percent, with higher education funding being cut by 2.9 percent.
The State, June 8, 2008

Tennessee
Tennessee is facing significant budget problems as it works to close a $315 million gap for the current fiscal year. Revenue projections for the 2008-09 fiscal year have also soured, dropping by $468 million since Gov. Phil Bredesen's January budget proposal. The governor's new proposal to close the budget gap calls for cutting higher education funding by $55.8 million, or about 5 percent. In addition, the new proposal reduces funding for capital maintenance at state colleges and universities by over $37 million.

The University of Tennessee is responding to its share of the cuts - $21.1 million - by planning to hold open vacant positions and cut three academic programs at its Knoxville campus. The programs are audiology and speech pathology, industrial and organizational psychology, and dance.
Chattanooga Times Free Press, May 2, 2008 and June 5, 2008
Knoxville News Sentinel, May 9, 2008
The Tennessean, May 13, 2008

Utah
Utah's public institutions of higher education received an ongoing funding increase of $38.8 million (a 4.8 percent increase) for the upcoming 2009 budget.
Utah System of Higher Education, March 7, 2008

Vermont
House and Senate leaders agreed to a $1.2 billion general fund budget that represents a 3 percent increase in spending. Higher education will receive a 2.5 percent increase in funding, although funds for that increase will be drawn from lawsuit settlement money that is not guaranteed. The forecast for 2010 is much gloomier however, as the state is already forecasting a general fund shortfall of $45 million assuming that state spending increases by 3 percent. Outside of the general fund, the state is also facing a shortfall for a healthcare program in 2010 that is possibly as large as $57 million.
Rutland Herald, May 3, 2008 and May 5, 2008

Virginia
The state ended up passing a $77 billion biennial budget for 2008-10 after confronting a projected $2 billion shortfall for the biennium. Higher education received a 2 percent increase in state general fund support from 2007-08 to 2008-09.
Washington Post, April 24, 2008
Richmond Times-Dispatch, May 18, 2008

Washington
The state is in the middle of its biennial budget, but Gov. Chris Gregoire signed off on $291 million in supplemental spending for the upcoming fiscal year. Higher education will receive $16.6 million in supplemental funds, largely for capital projects at technical and community colleges.
Gov. Chris Gregoire's website
Spokesman Review, April 2, 2008

Wisconsin
Facing a $527 million budget hole for the current biennium, the Wisconsin legislature sent their fix to Gov. Jim Doyle, who vetoed portions of it. The legislative fix would have delayed some school aid until the next fiscal year, used reserves, and borrowed against future payments from tobacco companies. Doyle vetoed delaying school aid payments, limited the amount of money tapped from state reserves, and lessened the amount borrowed from future tobacco payments. In its place, he slashed state spending, with road maintenance taking a $100 million hit. It is not yet clear where the other spending cuts will come from or whether funding for higher education will be cut.

While any budget cuts affecting the University of Wisconsin are unknown, the system will definitely have to absorb a $25 million funding lapse and account for increased costs of the Wisconsin GI Bill, which was recently expanded to provide full tuition remission for veterans and some family members. Previously it had only provided 50 percent tuition remission. The program is expected to cost $40 million over the next two years, with the state only providing $9 million in funding. In order to close at least part of the funding gap, 3 percent of the 5.5 percent tuition increase at all four-year institutions in the University of Wisconsin System would be directed toward funding the program.
Wisconsin State Journal, May 17, 2008
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, June 4, 2008

Wyoming
Wyoming passed an $8.1 billion budget for the biennium this year, an increase of $535 million over the previous biennial budget. However, the previous budget later swelled by $800 million through supplemental appropriations and later legislation requiring appropriations.

The budget passed for the 2009-10 fiscal years appropriates $244 million for community colleges plus an additional $91 million in capital construction at community colleges. In 2007-08, the state's community colleges received $285 million in combined appropriations and capital construction funds, but then received $160 million in supplemental funding, largely for capital expenditures, in the 2007 session. The budget also appropriated $455 million in the upcoming biennium for the University of Wyoming. In 2007-08, the University of Wyoming received $447 million in appropriations, with an additional $30 million following in supplemental appropriations, largely for a matching funds program for capital construction.
Wyoming Department of Administration and Information website
2007-08 Community College funding
2009-10 Community College funding
2007-08 University of Wyoming funding
2009-10 University of Wyoming funding

Stateline.org collected many of the newspaper links utilized here and the National Conference of State Legislatures provided the breakdown of state budget cycles. The information presented on this page is as accurate as possible, but different methods of reporting budget figures and supplemental appropriations and reductions can alter the amounts and percentages. Updates, additions, and corrections are welcome.