<p>Although this sounds bad, I’m not sure the numbers really translate into skyrocketing tuition…at least not immediately. The 2009 tuition increases alone amounted to approximately $150M in additional revenue this year. Eliminating the state’s sweep of tuition, along with eliminating the current tithe on research funding and other “self supporting programs” - approximately $48M in FY09 - would seem to make up for the proposed SUNY cut. Given that SUNY is enjoying unprecedented enrollment highs and the SUNY unallocated general fund (which is used to fill budget gaps at campuses that may have a shortfall due to declining enrollment) had a balance close to $500M last year, and seems to be growing, the two proposals make fiscal sense in a time when there must be massive cuts to the state budget. </p>
<p>I’m sure this is not a popular opinion, but I would rather have SUNY cuts/tuition increases than to see deeper cuts to healthcare, police, and school districts. The latter has the shameful effect of forcing the elderly and low income population out of their homes due to skyrocketing property taxes as the counties and school districts scramble to make up the shortfall.</p>
<p>For those who missed it, NY’s general fund was almost totally depleted at the end of 2009:
[NY’s</a> general fund almost out of money - Crain’s New York Business](<a href=“http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20091230/FREE/912309991#]NY’s”>http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20091230/FREE/912309991#)</p>