Blunt to recommend funding increase for higher education

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Gov. Matt Blunt is proposing to boost funding for state colleges and universities by 2 percent next year, STLtoday.com, the Web site of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, reported Friday.

Blunt said the state can afford an increase for higher education after five lean years because more people are working and tax receipts have picked up.

Colleges and universities "did take a substantial cut before I became governor," Blunt said. "We need to get them back to where they were in funding, and this is a step in that direction."

Blunt is to outline his proposed budget for the 2007 fiscal year during his State of the State speech Wednesday night.

His proposal would spend $874 million next year for the state's two- and four-year institutions -- a $17 million increase with nearly half the money earmarked for the University of Missouri.

University of Missouri system President Elson Floyd said the proposed increase was "wonderful news."

Blunt said he hoped the additional funds would help public universities hold down tuition increases.

Barbara Dixon, president of Truman State University in Kirksville, said she would "jump for joy" at a 2 percent increase. The extra money could help cover higher costs for insurance, pensions and utilities, Dixon said. She also wants to try to raise faculty salaries closer to national scales.

Blunt said he hoped the additional funds would help public universities hold down tuition increases.

"It's a healthy increase," Blunt said. "This would be a good opportunity for them to take these resources from Missouri taxpayers and try to hold any tuition increase to a minimum."