Budget boost, capital construction priorities for CU at 2014 Legislature

Colorado lawmakers convened at the Capitol Wednesday for the start of the 2014 legislative session, which is expected to lead to a welcome increase in funding for the University of Colorado and other higher education institutions across the state.

Gov. John Hickenlooper’s requested $100 million increase for higher education would mean $60 million in operating funds and $40 million in financial aid. CU’s share is expected to be $16.5 million.

The boost would return funding levels to a pre-recession baseline -- without accounting for inflation and enrollment increases in recent years. The governor’s proposal would tie the funding to a limit of 6 percent tuition increases in the next fiscal year for institutions.

“I’m encouraged by and appreciative of the governor’s efforts to minimize a tuition increase,” Board of Regents Chair Michael Carrigan told the Faculty Council in November. “It’s one side of the budget sheet. And it would be nice to take a year off from 5 percent to 9 percent tuition increases.”

CU’s Office of Government Relations, led by Vice President Tanya Kelly-Bowry, is at work supporting the governor’s budget request while also pursuing funding for CU’s top capital construction priorities. This year’s agenda also will include bills as requested by the campuses; details will be forthcoming throughout the four-month session.

Carrigan said he also expects CU to monitor the continued effort by the state’s community colleges to offer select four-year degrees, pursued for a time during last year’s session. He said he believes CU and other four-year institutions should be able to reach a compromise with community colleges on the matter.

This year at the Capitol, Democrats will hold majorities in the Senate (18-17) and House (37-28).

Other issues expected to spur debate and action at the General Assembly include K-12 finance, flood recovery and a revisitation of gun laws passed last year.