The Detroit News: State universities to have state funding cut by 15 percent after decision by House-Senate committee

By Kyle Feldscher Crime and courts reporter

Posted on Tue, May 24, 2011 : 12:28 p.m.

State universities will have their funding cut by 15 percent after a decision by House-Senate conference committee that was passed by the full Senate, according to a report in The Detroit News.

The decision is a part of the reconciling of the various budget bills passed in each chamber earlier in the month. The House of Representatives is expected to pass the budget thanks to the Republican majority.

A House-Senate conference committee also approved a Department of Human Services budget that limits welfare benefits to 48 months and takes a yearly $80 clothing allowance away from 124,000 children. That budget is expected to be approved by the Senate this afternoon.

The cuts to higher education are basically what Gov. Rick Snyder proposed in February. The cut will cost Eastern Michigan University about $15 million and will lower the University of Michigan's state aid to $268 million — the lowest amount in 20 years, according to university officials.

The funding cut raised fears that tuition at state universities will have to be raised to make up the difference.

The cuts have faced intense protests since they were first proposed, including at the U-M commencement ceremony when Snyder spoke to a crowd of about 40,000 at Michigan Stadium.

To read the full report in The Detroit News, click here.