Education funding trails inflation

To the editor:

I read with interest state Sen. Jason Crowell's column congratulating the Missouri Legislature on its funding of education. Careful analysis of the statistics Crowell provides indicates that legislators should be a source of shame rather than pride.

Crowell cites a $5.2 million (11.94 percent) increase in funding over five fiscal years. Unfortunately, the uncompounded increase in the consumer price index, even allowing for a modest 3 percent increase in the coming year, will exceed 16.5 percent. This means that the state fell short by almost $2 million in meeting basic inflationary budget increases. In addition, the increased state appropriations have come after major budget cuts of the early part of the decade. Southeast Missouri State University's state appropriation is still not equal to what it was a decade ago.

The River Campus is a great source of pride to the university, and the role that Crowell played in securing funding is greatly appreciated. However, that funding paid for bricks and mortar. There was no increase in funding to pay for utilities, custodial service, maintenance or security. All of those costs have to come out of the university operating budget, eating into support for other academic programs.

It should be no surprise that tuition has increased by 19 percent in the past few years. Someone has to pay to maintain the programs of the institution. Sadly, we have gone from being a mostly tax-supported institution to one that is increasingly dependent on what amount to user fees in the form of tuition.

WALT LILLY, Cape Girardeau