Lawmakers: Colorado college costs will likely increase

DENVER - Colorado lawmakers say despite massive cuts in higher education spending, the kinds of protests that led to dozens of University of California students being arrested earlier this month are not in our future.

The arrests came after the California Board of Regents approved a 32 percent increase in student fees, about three times what it was a decade ago, to compensate for state budget cuts.

"Obviously in Colorado, we're dealing with issues but I would offer that that situation will not happen (here)," said Rep. John Kefalas (D-Fort Collins). "The Legislature is very committed to higher ed. We know it's important. We have to show the public they're getting a return on their investment."

Before the decision from the California Regents, in-state Coloradans had seen their average tuition and required fees go up from $4,557 in 2004-05 to $7,278 in 2008-09, a 59.7 percent jump, the second highest of any state in the country behind only Hawaii which increased its tuition and fees 74.8 percent over the same time period.

The national average increase over that time was 31.2 percent.

The figures come from the State of Washington which did an analysis of higher education costs of all 50 states for its lawmakers.

Gov. Bill Ritter's (D-Colorado) proposed 2010-11 budget allows for another 9 percent hike on in-state students.

Federal stimulus dollars have provided a buffer for Colorado's colleges and universities while the state has reduced spending by $2 billion since the recession started, but that aid is going to run out soon.

The governor has asked the state's higher educational leaders to meet this fall to try to find a permanent money stream to help fund higher ed in the future.

A significant part of the budget reductions have come from the higher education budget, including $33 million that had been set aside to help Colorado's public universities and community colleges.

"The governor raided the very fund that was supposed to provide operating funds for the university system," said Rep. David Balmer (R-Centennial). "I think it's imperative that the Legislature and Governor Ritter make sure that we do not make higher education so expensive that parents begin sending their best and brightest to other states."

A spokesman for the governor said the legislation creating the fund for higher education was a de facto rainy day fund and that with the worst economic conditions since the Great Depression, the shifting of the funds was legitimate as "it's clearly raining right now."

Even with disagreements on how to fund higher education, both Democrats and Republicans agree the Legislature and governor would never allow the kind of one-time huge hike that California imposed on its students. Plus, California's costs to attend its public universities were already among the most expensive of any state in the country before the fee increase.

Both parties' leaders at the Colorado State Capitol say our future economy hinges on what answers they can discover.

"We're doing everything we possibly can to make sure those opportunities continue to exist for students as they move through our education system," said Senate President Brandon Shaffer (D-Longmont).

Related Links: State of Washington Survey of Higher Education Costs Nationwide (Adobe Acrobat Required):
http://www.hecb.wa.gov/research/issues/documents/TAB6.TuitionandFees2008-09Report-FINAL.pdf