N.D. committee recommends 19.6 percent budget increase

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FARGO — College affordability, technology investments and facility repairs are emphasized in a budget proposal for the North Dakota University System.

A committee of the State Board of Higher Education took the first step Monday in forming a legislative budget request for the 2011-13 biennium.

The Budget, Audit and Finance Committee recommended a $95.9 percent increase in base funding for the university system, or 19.6 percent.

The full board will consider the proposal next week at its meeting in Mayville.

The board also will consider a proposal to increase the budget for the University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences budget by $11.7 million, a 28.6 percent increase.

In addition, the committee recommended $7.5 million for student aid initiatives and $13.3 million in special one-time funding requests.

Some highlights of the general fund budget proposal are:

* Two-year colleges would see two more years of tuition freezes. Tuition increases would be capped at 4 percent each year for other campuses.

* More than $8 million would be invested in technology to enhance the delivery of education around the state and to support the Northern Tier Network.

* $3.2 million would go toward facility repair and maintenance.

* Employees would see 4.5 percent average annual salary increases.

* $15 million in equity funding would bring campus funding levels closer to their peers.

Laura Glatt, vice chancellor for administrative affairs, said freezing tuition for two-year campuses will bring the rates more in line with similar colleges regionally and nationally.

“It will take a significant amount of effort over time to close that gap completely,” Glatt said.

The medical school at UND is seeking a significant increase to address a looming shortage in health care workers and to meet the needs of the state’s aging population, officials said.

Chancellor Bill Goetz said this proposal is the first step of many toward expanding the medical school.

“This is really plowing new ground, in many ways, for the school of medicine,” Goetz said.

Amy Dalrymple is a reporter for The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead, which is owned by Forum Communications Co.

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