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The cost to attend the University of Maine will rise again this year, but by how much is unknown.
In November, the University of Maine System (UMS) requested a budget increase of $8 million to maintain the same level of service in light of increasing costs. That budget increase, added to the current annual state allocation of $185.7 million, would result in a tuition hike of six percent, or roughly $13 per credit hour.
That increase would be the lowest increase since 2002, but declining state revenue means the university could instead see the highest tuition hike in more than 15 years. The state will likely not give UMS the requested budget increase.
In fact, UMS could have more money taken away and face a tuition increase as large as 14 percent – the largest since 1992. This is because state tax revenue has fallen short of expectations – $190 million short.
Though such a cut has not been ordered yet, Governor John Baldacci asked UMS to describe the impact a $7.1 million cut would have. That means the state would not grant the supplemental $8 million request the system intended to use to keep tuition down.
This would cut an additional $7.1 million, leaving a gap of more than $15 million.
Overcoming that cut would mean an increase in tuition. UMS Chancellor Richard Pattenaude said the increase would be eight percent, in addition to the six percent already anticipated. That, he said, “would result in a one-year tuition increase of an unimaginable 14 percent.”
In addition to a tuition increase, responding to this cut would eliminate 150 to 250 staff positions, according to Pattenaude. This also could mean the suspension of some course offerings.
“Nearly 8,000 students could lose the ability to obtain the necessary courses to graduate in a timely fashion,” he said.
Pattenaude said the cut would be difficult to handle. “Closing a $15 million gap would cause serious negative consequences to current students, employees, regional economies, and others who use and depend on the universities for programs and services,” he said.
State Representative Emily Cain (D-Orono) is also worried about this increase. “As far as I’m concerned, that is unacceptable. [Universities] are already cutting. Even before these potential cuts, they are already looking at positions and programs and cutting back on all kinds of things. This would be a hard blow for them to take,” she said.
UMaine administrators agree. “[The cuts] would be devastating and very difficult to manage,” Director of University Relations Joe Carr said. “A significant cut would reduce the university’s ability to provide the high-quality education our students deserve and the people of Maine expect,” he said.
Earlier this month, state revenue forecasters reported a $95 million budget gap. On Monday, the state released new revenue forecasts suggesting that the gap has doubled, and that legislators must now find $190 million to balance the budget. The Maine Revenue Service attributes this gap to shortages across tax revenue lines from sales tax to real estate, corporate, and individual taxes. While the state is considering many cuts to fill the hole, some may need to come from UMS.
Cain, who sits on the Legislature’s appropriations committee, said the budget process is still in its infancy and that exact cuts are unknown.
“The governor has proposed no cuts to higher education,” Cain said. “The education committee has said, however, should the [budget gap] we have to fill double, which it has, they would take a part out of higher education.”
Cain said that education committee members hope not to cut UMS funding, and that they will restore the money if they are able. “They said should the cuts not have to be as deep, the first place they would restore the money is to higher education,” she said.
University officials say it is too soon to say how UMaine would respond if ordered to significantly cut back operations. “It is important for all of us to advocate for the University of Maine,” Carr said, “and to make the case that budget reductions will have a detrimental impact on the university’s ability to continue effectively serving its students and the state.”
Cain is optimistic, and hopes cuts to UMaine are not necessary. “We’re just at the beginning of these discussions, and there is a lot of support for higher education,” she said.
The legislature will continue evaluating budget cuts and proposals in the weeks and months ahead.
