Bright Futures will not pay Florida tuition increases
TALLAHASSEE (AP) – State college and university students getting Florida’s popular Bright Futures scholarships will have to dig into their own pockets to pay an 8 percent tuition increase expected to go into effect July 1.
Legislative budget negotiators made that decision Thursday but remained at an impasse on a couple hot-button political issues that will get bumped up to House and Senate appropriations leaders for resolution.
Both are House budget provisions not included in the Senate plan. They would ban spending state money on college and university trips to countries deemed state sponsors of terrorism and on embryonic stem cell research at universities.
Through this year, Bright Futures scholarships received by nearly half of Florida’s university students, covered 75 percent or 100 percent of tuition based on grades and entrance test scores. The grants also paid for base tuition increases, but that won’t be the case in the next budget year.
“We simply don’t have the dollars,” said Sen. Evelyn Lynn, an Ormond Beach Republican who chairs two budget conference committees on higher education.
The scholarships are supported by the Florida Lottery and its profits have been declining.
“All the projections are still coming in negative,” Lynn said. “Hopefully it’ll get better soon.”
Eliminating the increase payments will save $34 million and leave Bright Futures spending at $419 million.
House negotiators later made a counteroffer that was $7 million below the Senate’s position, which would further reduce each scholarship. Senators held firm, and talks will continue Friday.
For many Bright Futures recipients the total out-of-pocket expense will be more than the 8 percent across-the-board tuition increase. That’s because the program also doesn’t cover differential tuition increases the five largest universities already have the authority to impose. The other six schools would get the same authority under a bill.