Wash. Gov. Gregoire open to college tuition surcharge as budget deficit worsens

Gov. Chris Gregoire says she's interested in a temporary tuition "surcharge" that could help public universities deal with big budget cuts.

There aren't many details on the plan yet, but Gregoire said Tuesday that she's open to a temporary, extra fee that four-year universities could charge on top of tuition.

University of Washington lobbyist Randy Hodgins said the governor's idea is an interesting third option for university budget balancing.

"Higher education isn't rocket science, fiscally. If you don't have any more general fund money ... there's only one other source of cash, and that's tuition," Hodgins said.

But Gregoire's idea would provide more money for the university without having much impact on enrollment, he speculated, because the surcharge could get washed out by an increase in government grants and a new federal tax credit.

The governor ran the idea past university presidents before discussing it with the public, Hodgins said.

Gregoire has been worried about budget cuts driving down college enrollment and making it harder for students to graduate on time, he said.

At present, the average UW grad gets his or her undergraduate degree in about four-and-a-half years, Hodgins said.

Gregoire's proposed budget includes 13 percent spending cuts for four-year universities. The cuts were partially offset by a 7 percent tuition increase.

But the deficit has ballooned to $8 billion or more since she wrote her budget, and college officials are bracing for deeper cuts.

Legislative budget writers have asked the universities to create models for cuts 50 percent deeper than Gregoire's proposal.

The governor also spoke Tuesday about K-12 education budgets. She said she told legislative leaders that she wouldn't sign an education reform bill that doesn't contain information about how to pay for changes in the state's definition of basic education.

She said she won't embrace the work of the education committees unless "any legislation that may pass makes it clear that new definition can't be implemented unless and until there are funds to pay for it."

To do less would invite a lawsuit, and it would be irresponsible for her to sign such legislation, she said.

The House on Friday approved its version of basic education reform that would begin with the 2011-12 fiscal year and phase in over six years.

Starting in September 2011, the state would dedicate half of any general fund growth above 5 percent toward the basic education program. The bill must still be reconciled with a Senate proposal that is much less detailed.

Neither bill says money would have to be available before it would be implemented.

Since a coalition of school districts and citizen groups has even filed a lawsuit challenging the adequacy of the present school financing system, lawmakers feel pressured to pass some kind of reform this session. The case is scheduled to be heard at summer's end.

____

AP reporters Phuong Le and Curt Woodward contributed to this story from Olympia.