Nebraska tuition freeze ‘likely’

It is likely that the Nebraska legislature will increase funding to the university system as well as the state college system during the next two years.

The proposed funding increase, planned for the coming two academic years, would also bring a tuition freeze for in-state student tuition for the Nebraska college system, which includes the University of Nebraska system as well as the Nebraska State College System.

The funds to the college system would see an increase of 4.5 and 4 percent for the 2013-14 and 2014-15 academic years respectively.

This higher than average funding increase, as noted in the appropriations committee’s preliminary budget report, comes in exchange for the proposed freeze to in-state tuition over the next two academic years.

The funding to the college system would be less than what Gov. Dave Heineman included in his budget proposal, but the funding is more than what several appropriations committee members had included in their budget plans.

This increase in funds is due in part to a forecast from the Nebraska Economic Forecasting Advisory Board of increased tax revenues in Nebraska by up to 5.5 percent for the current fiscal year and 3.1 percent for the 2013-14 fiscal year.

State Senator Heath Mello who is the head of the appropriation’s committee and Gov. Dave Heineman could not be reached for comment.

Heineman’s and Mello’s head spokesmen said they were not speaking further on the issue until after the proposed budget plans had been submitted.

This proposed budget is tentatively approved and is expected to be part of the state budget plan and is due to the Legislature by May 1.