ASU President Expects Tuition to Continue to Climb Next Year

ASU President Expects Tuition to Continue to Climb Next Year ASU President Michael Crow expects no more budget cuts from the state next fiscal year, and he, along with his colleagues...

ASU President expects tuition to continue to climb next year ASU President Michael Crow expects no more state budget cuts next fiscal year, and he, along with his colleagues, is working to stabilize current tuition. A report released last month by the Arizona Joint Legislative Budget Committee showed that total state tax revenue in 2010 exceeded 8.5% year-over-year, or $1.53 billion, with $79.6 million collected so far. The committee expects to end the 2010-2011 fiscal year with more revenue than expected, with a surplus of $3 billion. Crowe said the university has made improvements to cope with this year's $90 million funding cut. (Three state universities have been cut by a combined $198 million.) Those improvements include laying off 190 faculty members last spring and ending contracts with private cleaning companies. Arizona Student Association board president Dan Fitzgibbon said the student lobby group wants the university to benefit from a $300 million surplus. Crowe said university officials plan to have an ultimate goal of not increasing tuition, and even if it does, try to limit it to no more than 3 percent. When college fees increase, in-state students ultimately suffer. Between 2010 and 2011, tuition for in-state students increased by 18%, from $5,410 to $9,208. The state government began cutting college funding in fiscal year 2008, and tuition that year was $5,410.