Scott signs budget, restoring funding and vetoing tuition hike
Fla. Gov. Rick Scott signed into effect the 2013-14 fiscal year budget, restoring more than $45 million in cuts to the USF System’s base budget, though he vetoed the 3 percent tuition increase included by the state Legislature.
According to a statement released via email from USF spokeswoman Lara Wade-Martinez on Monday, the university will not seek differential tuition increases and “will wait for further direction from leaders in Tallahassee on any implementation of the statutory requirement mandating a base tuition increase at a rate equal to inflation.”
“The University of South Florida would like to thank Governor Scott and the Legislature for their support. Restoring $45 million, which was cut from USF’s base budget in 2012, represents a significant investment back into the USF System,” the statement said.
The budget also includes more than $40 million in new funds to USF, according to the statement, which will be used for new projects, such as the new College of Business building in St. Pete and the USF Heart Health Institute.
— Staff report
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