Tuition may rise more than expected

Kayla Webley
2005-03-01
The Daily

As the state's budget deficit broadens, the UW's tuition rates may jump from a predicted 5 to 9 percent increase to between 12 and 15 percent to compensate for a lack of state funds for higher education.

The additional deficit stems from the state's estate tax being ruled unconstitutional by the Washington State Supreme Court last month. Now, the state not only has to refund approximately $177 million from last year's estate tax revenue, but must also take additional revenue anticipated from this year's taxes out of the 2005-2007 budget, amounting to a total loss of approximately $430 million in state revenue.

This loss swells the state's already large $1.8 billion deficit -- announced by former Gov. Gary Locke early on in the legislative session -- to $2.23 billion.

Because of the deficit, higher education is facing the largest tuition increase since the 2001 biennium, when tuition rates increased 16 percent.

"No matter how large the budget deficit is we are fighting every single day to make sure the legislators understand that students can't afford to continue to pay for their education with these out-of-control tuition increases," said Jamie Corning, UW student lobbyist.

The state Legislature can only set tuition parameters for in-state resident undergraduate students.