LETTER TO THE EDITOR | Tuition hike isn’t needed for higher education focus

Published 5:00 pm Wednesday, October 1, 2014

Editor,

In light of the governor’s recent request for state agencies to plan for a 15 percent reduction in their budgets, I have sent a letter asking for his support in keeping higher education affordable by proposing a budget that does not make cuts to higher education funding.

Analysis shows that a 15 percent reduction could result in a 26 percent increase in tuition over the next two years, an average of about $3,000 at Washington’s research universities.

We have worked hard to stem the tide of rising college tuition by implementing the state’s first freeze on college tuition since 1986 and continued the freeze for the coming school year.

A lack of commitment by elected leaders and accountability on the part of our institutions of higher learning has functioned like a tax on our middle-class families and students in the form of skyrocketing tuition. Our work these past two years to freeze tuition has meant more opportunity and affordability for students in our state.

For years higher education funding has been used as a piggy bank to offset funding reductions in other areas of the budget. As we work through the budget process and policy proposals, it is important to hold the line on higher education funding.

In this year’s supplemental budget, we demonstrated that we can hold the line on tax increases and invest in higher education without raising the cost of tuition. It’s simply unfair to balance the budget on the backs of middle-class families and college students struggling with debt.

SEN. BARBARA BAILEY

10th Legislative District