The Future of Higher Education in Connecticut by Dannel P. Malloy, Governor of Connecticut

Outwardly, the results appear impressive—growth in enrollments and degrees granted, expanded campuses and program offerings, and a well-known reputation for ...]]> We invited each of the six New England governors to write articles on future challenges facing higher education in their respective states. ...

The Future of Higher Education in Connecticut
by Dannel P. Malloy, Governor of Connecticut

Outwardly, the results appear impressive—growth in enrollments and degrees granted, expanded campuses and program offerings, and a well-known reputation for maintaining high academic standards. Yet at some point along this path, we lost our national ranking as first in educational attainment, outpaced by other states acting more aggressively and with greater foresight in anticipating future economic and demographic challenges. It is imperative that we turn this around now, or else we forever play catch-up.

In Maine, Postsecondary Success Starts Before College
by Paul R. LePage, Governor of Maine

If we’re not engaging students, but still promoting them from grade level to grade level, they’re graduating from high school unprepared for the rigors of college coursework. If they even enroll in college, it’s those students who are most likely to need remediation, and most likely to drop out before they earn a degree. What we need in Maine is an education system that holds students to rigorous standards, encourages students to take charge of their own learning and has flexibility and relevance at its core. In other words, our education system needs to offer all students—especially those at-risk of falling behind—more opportunities to be successful in school.

In Mass., Public Higher Education Is Engine for Opportunity
by Deval Patrick, Governor of Massachusetts

Thanks to our dedicated teachers and committed students, Massachusetts leads the nation in student achievement and classroom innovation. We’ve made education our top priority because it’s the path to a more fulfilling life, a more rewarding career and a richer society. I have personally experienced the transformative power of education and have a deep understanding of what a good teacher and a good school can mean to a young person.

For more on the series, see Here Come the Guvs.

Gov. Dannel Malloy’s two-year plan to deal with a $3.2 billion deficit (in the first year alone) relies on significant concessions from labor to the tune of $1.5 billion. Unions gave Malloy strong support in ...]]>

Connecticut

Gov. Dannel Malloy’s two-year plan to deal with a $3.2 billion deficit (in the first year alone) relies on significant concessions from labor to the tune of $1.5 billion. Unions gave Malloy strong support in his race for governor. The remaining portion of the deficit would be addressed through $750 million in program cuts and $1.5 billion in tax increases.

The General Assembly’s Finance and Appropriations Committees met with Malloy and reached agreement on the budget for FY12-FY13. Following the meeting, the Joint Appropriations Committee released its budget, which will be debated in the House in the coming week. The governor and legislative leaders still must finalize an agreement with labor. Malloy has said he expects to see a budget on May 6.

Higher Education

Malloy has proposed a two-year $144-million cut to public higher education. Also included in his budget is a plan to restructure the system, which features the following:

• The boards of trustees for the Connecticut State University System, the community colleges, Charter Oak State College and the Board of Governors for Higher Education would be eliminated and replaced by a Board of Regents for Higher Education and one CEO.

• The Regents would develop a strategic plan to increase Connecticut’s educational attainment with input from the public and stakeholders.

• The Regents would develop a formula to distribute taxpayer support to campuses on the basis of enrollment, attainment of identified policy goals and other factors.

• The Regents would issue annual reports on: student outcomes such as retention and graduation; allocation of resources; cost analysis of academic programs; an affordability index based on the median income of a family of four; enrollment and completion by program; transfer of college credits across institutions and a joint report with the Department of Labor on employment and earnings of graduates.

The Legislature is expected to support the plan despite reservations of several key lawmakers, who have expressed concern about costs savings and the separate and distinct missions of the institutions involved. Several legislators also question why the University of Connecticut is not part of the plan.

UConn is facing a deficit of $45 million, which includes a $25 million cut by Malloy. Tuition at UConn will increase by 2.5% for the next academic year, reflecting the rate of inflation; in-state students will pay $10,676 in tuition and fees and out-of-state students will pay $25,152.  A 2.5% increase will also be applied to tuition and fees at the four Connecticut State Universities. Meanwhile, an increase of nearly 3%  will raise tuition and fee rates at the Connecticut community colleges.

As part of his plan to reduce the state deficit, Malloy has put the $23.4 million Connecticut Independent College Scholarship Program on the chopping block. This comes at a time when cutbacks are slated for federal student aid programs including Pell Grants. Judith Greiman, president of the Connecticut Conference of Independent Colleges, said more than 1,500 Connecticut students will not receive grants next year, and more than 3,000 will not receive grants in the following year. College presidents of private institutions have indicated they cannot make up the difference for the loss of the program.

The governor’s plan also includes a provision that would take away collective bargaining rights of many college faculty. According to The Chronicle of Higher Education, faculty who are department heads or who hold other decision-making posts would be reclassified as managerial employees, which would disqualify them to take part in collective bargaining as faculty members.

Pre-K-12

Malloy’s budget level-funds elementary and secondary education with a slight increase to early-childhood programs. Education officials are pleased that Malloy's budget fills the gap created by the absence of $270 million in stimulus funds.

Despite Malloy’s proposals to eliminate and/or consolidate state agencies, Sen. Beth Bye has filed legislation that would create a new state agency to address the mix of early-childhood education and childcare programs. She proposes an agency similar to the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care to help eliminate the state’s overlapping child-care programs.

Malloy has increased funding for school-choice programs by $70 million in order to comply with the terms of Sheff vs. O’Neill, which requires the state to reduce racial isolation in Hartford’s public schools.

Maine

The Joint Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee continues to work on Gov. Paul LePage’s $6.1 billion spending package for the next two years. The spending plan is $300 million higher than the previous year.  Parts of the governor’s plan hinge on public employees, who are being asked to contribute 2% more of their salaries toward the state pension system, which currently has an unfunded liability of $4.4 billion. Also, the governor is asking that the retirement age for state employees be raised from 65 to 67.

Higher Education

LePage has level-funded the public higher education system in his budget. University of Maine officials, while expressing appreciation of how higher education is treated in the budget, will in all probability raise tuition by 4.5% for the coming academic year. Chancellor Richard Pattenaude says this would be the smallest increase in eight years. In 2009, tuition increased by 9.6%. The university must still deal with a $6 million deficit.

In his biennial report to the Maine Legislature, Maine Community College System President John Fitzsimmons called for an expansion of the system. Fitzsimmons noted that in fall 2010, the system turned away 5,300 qualified students because of a lack of capacity. He proposed a plan to increase capacity which includes expanding Southern Maine Community College to the former Brunswick Naval Air Station to eventually serve 2,000 students, and expanding Kennebec Valley Community College to the Good Will Hinckley campus, which would serve an additional 1,500 students. Fiztsimmons also mentioned "Accelerate ME," a program that helps Maine adults complete their college degrees, and the Maine Community College System’s Rural Initiative which provides scholarships and degree programs to rural students as additional ways to access higher education.

K-12

LePage’s budget provides an increase of $23 million in state aid to K-12. However, $59 million in stimulus funds will be lost, so education funding will actually decrease by $36 million. Legislators are looking to change the Essential Programs and Services/EPS funding formula for K-12, which has hurt rural communities. More than 25 bills have been filed to change the formula for education funding.

Massachusetts

The Massachusetts House Ways and Means Committee released a $30.5 billion budget for FY12 on April 13. The spending plan features a controversial proposal to reform the process for setting municipal health insurance rates outside collective bargaining. House Speaker Robert DeLeo, a staunch supporter of labor, favors the reform crafted by Rep. Brian Dempsey, chair of the Ways and Means Committee. The plan is estimated to save municipalities approximately $100 million and is endorsed by the Massachusetts Municipal Association.

A report by the Boston Foundation cited health care costs in local budgets soaring to $1 billion from 2000 to 2007. That’s $300 million more than state aid to education during the same period. While wealthier school districts were able to make budget adjustments, poorer school districts were forced to cut books and teachers. This runs counter to the 1993 Education Reform that passed to equalize funding for all Massachusetts school districts.

The House proposal calls for local officials to set the premiums for health insurance plans. Municipal employees would have the right to bargain their share of the premiums. Municipalities would also have the option of joining the Group Insurance Commission. Employees of the Massachusetts public higher education system and all other state employees are part of the Group Insurance Commission, which sets rates and premiums for health insurance costs outside the collective bargaining process. Labor leaders view the House plan as an assault on public employees and have vowed to remove lawmakers who support the plan. The Massachusetts Teachers Association opposes the plan and supports a scaled-down version proposed by Gov. Deval Patrick.

Debate on the House budget is expected to run from Monday, April 25, through Friday, April 29. Senate President Therese Murray predicts the Senate will pass a local aid resolution, which agrees with the plan outlined in the House budget, and take up the budget in late May.

Higher Education

The House and the governor agreed on funding higher education at FY11 levels However, the system is short $61.5 million, which represents stimulus funds used in FY 11 that are no longer available. Campuses will receive 7.5% less in funding. Beginning in FY12, all campuses will be allowed to retain tuition from out-of-state students.

The University of Massachusetts and its campuses face a deficit of $54.5 million for the coming year. President Jack Wilson, who will step down after this year, has cut more than 500 faculty and administrative positions, reduced overtime and decreased energy and discretionary expenses. Wilson will also raise student fees. Current in-state tuition and mandatory fees at UMass Amherst are $11,732, Out-of-state tuition and mandatory fees are $23,628.

The state’s scholarship programs will be funded at $86.5 million, which represents a decrease of $3 million from FY11. The House budget includes an additional cut of $1.8 million.

Pre-K-12

The House budget agreed with the governor’s budget in funding pre-k–12. While local aid was reduced by $65 million, education aid to school districts was increased by $140 million.

State Education Commissioner Mitchell Chester is proposing to reward teachers and administrators when students show improvement on their MCAS scores. The plan would also mandate a course correction for teachers of students who underperform.  The Massachusetts Teachers Association takes issue with the idea that MCAS would be central in evaluating teacher performance.

Secretary of Education Paul Reville wants to examine how New Hampshire’s dropout rate fell after increasing the minimum dropout age from 16 to 18. Gov. John Lynch of New Hampshire reported the rate fell to below 1% after raising the dropout age to 18. However, the New Hampshire House recently passed a bill restoring the dropout age to 16.

New Hampshire

The Senate Finance Committee heard testimony from Chancellor Edward MacKay and executives from the University System of New Hampshire who appeared before the committee to make their case for more state aid.

Gov. John Lynch cut the state appropriation to the University System of New Hampshire by 5%. The New Hampshire House went much further, cutting $31 million or 45% out of the budget for each fiscal year.

MacKay said the cut would have a dramatic impact on student aid. Cuts have also been made to the state’s scholarship programs. Lynch and the House agreed to eliminate the New Hampshire Postsecondary Education Commission and the state grant programs it administers.  MacKay said with federal programs being cut, there will be $6 million less for next year’s students.

The New Hampshire community colleges were cut in the House budget by $18.7 million over the next two years. Community college officials said this is the equivalent of closing two campuses. Enrollment has increased over 34% during the past three years.

Sen. Chuck Morse, chair of the Senate Finance Committee, said he’s not looking to cut as deeply as the House, but indicated there will be further cuts and warned higher education officials not to blame the Legislature for rising tuitions.

UNH President Mark Huddleston formed a task force to deal with a 45% or $31 million cut to the university’s budget by the New Hampshire House. Huddleston expects to eliminate 200 positions with layoffs, buyouts and not filling vacant positions. The task force is due to report on May 1 with a list of recommendations.

The university is also in the midst of negotiating faculty contracts. The faculty proposed a 12.5% salary increase over three years, while the administration countered with a 6.5% increase over three years. A “fact finder” recommended an 8.75% increase over three years with cuts to benefits. The faculty accepted the fact finder’s recommendation. But the University System’s executive board rejected the recommendation as unrealistic given the current fiscal climate.

K-12

State aid to local school districts was cut $8.7 million. An additional $7.9 million was cut from an aid program for severely disabled students.

Education officials are also sorting out the latest results from the New England Common Assessment Program. Based on the New England Common Assessment Program/NECAP, the state issues Adequate Yearly Program (AYP) reports for grades 3-8 and 11, combined with the 2009-10 NH-Alternate Assessment results for Grades 2-7 and 10, and the Class of 2010 graduation rate.

The New Hampshire Department of Education reports that of 469 school reports, 327 did not achieve Adequate Yearly Progress/AYP in one or more areas. Also, 14 high schools failed to meet the target of an 80% graduation rate. In subject areas, 197 schools achieved AYP in reading while 166 achieved AYP in mathematics. Those schools not making AYP for two consecutive years in the same area are designated as a School in Need of Improvement. Based on the new results, 60 schools are identified as new Schools in Need of Improvement.

Rhode Island

Speaker of the House Gordon Fox rejected Gov. Lincoln Chafee’s sales tax plan in its present form, saying the plan’s proposed 1% tax on water, home heating oil and manufactured supplies is “offensive.” Fox is willing to work with the Chafee administration to come up with an alternative plan.

Senate President Teresa Paiva Weed also rejected the Chafee plan and will explore other alternatives including spending cuts and consolidations. She specifically mentioned the elimination of the Rhode Island Office of Higher Education as an area where spending could be cut.

Higher Education

Chafee won praise from college and university officials for increasing funding for higher education by $10 million for FY12. The total funding for higher education is $154 million. But the officials say it won’t stop tuition and fees from going up especially after $40 million in funding cuts in prior years. At Rhode Island College, President Nancy Carriuolo said the college must still address a $4.6 million budget gap.

Chafee appointed and the Senate confirmed eight new members of the Rhode Island Board of Governors for Higher Education. The Board has 13 members and all but one member will be replaced. The new chair is Lorne Adrain, a Providence businessman and philanthropist who replaces Judge Frank Caprio.

K-12

The Chafee budget provides $700 million for school districts for FY12. Rhode Island will also receive federal Race to the Top funds of $75 million. In testimony before the House Health, Education and Welfare Committee, Commissioner Deborah Gist said the proposed budget for Rhode Island schools supports her formula for education funding, which distributes funds based on the number of students enrolled. Gist reported Rhode Island students outperformed students in New Hampshire and Vermont in the New England Common Assessment Program for 2010. Gist also admitted there are areas where improvement is needed. Only 33% of high school students were found to be “proficient” in mathematics. Rhode Island’s graduation rate, which is approximately 75% statewide, is 60% or lower in some school districts, and Hispanic students in Rhode Island have the lowest achievement rates in the U.S.

Vermont

The Senate Appropriations Committee approved a $4.68 billion spending plan, and the full Senate will debate the budget on April 21.

Higher Education

Gov. Peter Shumlin’s budget level-funded the University of Vermont and the Vermont State Colleges for FY12. UVM and the state colleges are asking for an additional amount of $4.2 million which reflects stimulus funds that were applied to these budgets in FY11.

UVM is requesting $43.3 million. The Vermont State Colleges are requesting $24.8 million from House and Senate Appropriations Committees.

In making their case to the House and Senate Appropriations committees, UVM President Dan Fogel and VSC Chancellor Timothy Donovan cited the following:

Vermont State Colleges:

• Full-time equivalent enrollment at all five institutions has gone up 56% over the past decade, and 114% at the Community College of Vermont.
• 54% of VSC students are the first in their families to attend college.
• 74% of VSC graduates stay in Vermont.
• Of Vermont high school seniors who planned to attend college in-state, 18% were headed to VSC in 2000 and 25% in 2008, while UVM’s share remained about the same at 12%.

University of Vermont:

• More than 29,000 UVM alumni—about 30% of all UVM graduates—live in Vermont.
• UVM is the state’s fourth largest employer, with 3,800 employees.
• UVM admitted 70% of its Vermont applicants, and of the Vermonters admitted, 40% enrolled.
• Of the roughly 25,000 out-of-state students attending college in Vermont, UVM enrolls about 32%, VSC 9%, and private colleges, 59%

UVM trustees will consider a 5.8% increase in tuition when they meet in May. Currently in-state students pay $12,888 and out-of-state students pay $32,528. Fees are $1,894. The Vermont State Colleges have already voted to increase tuition rates for the coming academic year. In-state students will pay $8,568 and out-of-state students will pay $12,864. Fees are $899.

K-12

In announcing the results of the latest NECAP statewide tests, the Vermont Department of Education invited the students of Montgomery Elementary School and their teachers and principal to attend a press conference recognizing their achievement. Officials identified 14 schools across the state with high scores for all students, as well as students in poverty. Of the schools identified, Montgomery had the highest percentage of students in poverty (63%), but also had the highest overall percentage of students who scored "proficient" and above (92.9%), and the highest percentage of students in poverty who scored proficient and above (88.8%).

According to the U.S. Census of 2010, Montgomery Center, Vt., has a population of 1,201 residents. It is a short distance from Jay Peak Mountain, which is five miles from the Canadian border. Typically, low-income, economically disadvantaged students do not experience the same  academic success as their classmates. Montgomery’s students proved to be the exception.



Connecticut Biennial Budget

Gov. Dan Malloy’s two-year $40 billion budget calls for $1.5 billion in new ...]]> The author, NEBHE consultant and former director of the Caucus of New England State Legislatures Carolyn Morwick, notes that this update on state budgets was accurate as of March 29, but events are changing rapidly in the six state capitals.

Connecticut Biennial Budget

Gov. Dan Malloy’s two-year $40 billion budget calls for $1.5 billion in new taxes, which includes hikes in the sales and gas taxes and in alcohol and cigarette taxes.

Part of the governor's spending proposal includes restructuring the state's higher education system. To reduce the deficit, the governor proposed cutting state funding for grants/scholarships for Connecticut students attending private institutions by 25% and for those attending state schools by 10%.

Gov. Malloy and House Speaker Christopher Donovan, both Democrats, aim to speed up what had become a long contentious budget process during the Rell years. Donovan expects the House to pass the budget for FY12-FY13 in early May. The Appropriations and Finance Committees are working out the details.

Maine Biennial Budget

Gov. Paul LePage vowed to veto any budget that does not include $200 million in tax breaks and welfare reform. Both Democratic and Republican legislators are working to reach a consensus on the budget, which does not necessarily guarantee the governor will get what he wants. The governor has indicated he will not cut education.

Massachusetts Annual Budget

Massachusetts is bracing for budget cuts, which are the biggest in 20 years. The FY12 budget of $30 billion is based in part on an additional $1 billion in sales tax revenues, the result of a hike in the sales tax approved in 2009. Cuts include eliminating 900 jobs, closing two prisons, cutting benefits to Mass Health (Medicaid) recipients, cutting $23 million out of emergency homeless shelter funds, and cutting state aid by $65 million. Gov. Deval Patrick’s budget contains no tax hikes. However, it is balanced by using $200 million in the state’s rainy day fund.

House and Senate budget-writers warn that Gov. Patrick’s recommended local aid cuts will in fact be much deeper. House Ways and Means Chairman, Brian Dempsey is advising House members to tell local officials that the $1.5 billion that was available for this year won’t be there for the new fiscal year. Senate Ways and Means Chairman Stephen Brewer said cities and towns are struggling to deal with rising health care costs, which are cutting into increases in local aid.  Speaker of the House Robert DeLeo stated his opposition to raising taxes. The House is expected to release its budget in mid April.

New Hampshire Biennial Budget

Gov. John Lynch proposed a budget of $10.7 billion, which is approximately 7% less than the current budget. The House Finance Committee approved a budget of $10.1 billion, which makes $519 million in additional cuts, claiming Gov. Lynch’s revenue estimates are off by $300 million.

In light of the deep cuts proposed by the Finance Committee, Gov. Lynch is asking the Senate to restore the cuts, especially in public safety, health and human services and higher education. Under the House bill, approximately 8,000 residents would be affected by the elimination of mental health services and programs. Lynch also said the committee’s proposal to cut state appropriations to the University System of New Hampshire by 50% and to the community colleges by 20% will make it very difficult for students to go on to college. The full House is expected to vote on the budget on Thursday, March 31^st.

The governor stated his opposition to passage of a bill by the House to allow students to drop out of school at age 16. This bill reverses previously enacted legislation that raised the dropout age to 18, which the governor noted resulted in the dropout rate declining.  He also supports a constitutional amendment to allow New Hampshire to provide more state aid to revenue-poor communities as a means of equalizing funding for public education. The House recently voted to return to an old formula allowing communities to set spending rates.

Rhode Island Annual Budget

The House Finance Committee began public hearings on Gov. Lincoln Chafee’s $7.7 billion spending plan during the week of March 21. At issue is the governor’s proposal to lower the sales tax from 7% to 6%, while including new items that would be subject to the sales tax. Chafee also proposes cutting areas in human services such as the state’s pharmaceutical assistance program for elderly residents of Rhode Island. Other areas that would be subject to cuts include ending the state’s film tax credits.

Vermont Annual Budget

The Vermont House passed a spending plan for FY 2012 on March 25 by a margin of 95-34. The budget is 3.6 % less than the previous year’s budget.

In a historic move, the House also passed the nation’s first single-payer health care reform bill. The Senate is expected to pass the bill and send it on to Gov. Shumlin, who is expected to sign the measure. Under the bill, Green Mountain Care, a universal health insurance plan would be available to all residents of Vermont.



The good news is that the New England states are showing slight gains in revenue collections. The bad news is that it will not be enough to stave off a new round of budget cuts for the coming fiscal years. States are preparing budgets for FY12 and FY13 while addressing shortfalls in FY11 budgets. ...]]>

The good news is that the New England states are showing slight gains in revenue collections. The bad news is that it will not be enough to stave off a new round of budget cuts for the coming fiscal years. States are preparing budgets for FY12 and FY13 while addressing shortfalls in FY11 budgets. Most states have spent stimulus funds to avoid massive layoffs in K-12 districts and higher education. But governors and legislators fear the worst is yet to come.

Connecticut

Projected deficit for FY12: $3.67 billion

New Gov. Dan Malloy confronts a huge challenge in addressing Connecticut’s budget for the coming biennium. The state burned through $1.4 billion in its rainy day fund and has spent most, if not all, of the one-time stimulus funding. Malloy is scheduled to file his budget plan for the new biennium, FY12, FY13, in mid-February.

K-12

Commissioner of Education Mark McQuillan abruptly resigned from his post, citing the stress of the job and frustration with working in a politically charged environment. He also expressed his disappointment with layoffs in his department and not being successful in the competition for federal Race to the Top funds. Yet McQuillan was largely successful in navigating the political landscape and is credited with passage of school accountability legislation, a new mentoring program for teachers and passage of a school reform bill which increases requirements for graduation from middle school and high school while giving parents more power to affect change in failing schools through governance councils. Malloy will conduct a nationwide search for a new school chief. In the interim, Deputy Commissioner George Coleman is expected to fill the vacancy.

Higher Education

In June 2010, the trustees of the University of Connecticut approved a budget for FY 12 of $1.03 billion—a 4.8% increase over the previous year’s. The board also approved a 6% increase in tuition, fees and room and board charges for in-state students, which would amount to $20,968.

In September 2010, trustees of the Connecticut State University System approved a freeze on tuition and fees for academic year 2011-12, but cautioned they may have to reconsider due to the recession's severity.

Connecticut Community Colleges will increase tuition and fees by 2.5%.

Full-time students now pay $3,406 in tuition and fees, which will increase to $3,490 in the 2011-12 school year.

House Speaker Chris Donovan and Senate President Don Williams are reluctant to cut state services but are looking at ways to address the deficit including consolidating agencies and cutting the bureaucracy. Higher education is expected to be on the chopping block.

The Connecticut General Assembly’s Office of Legislative Research reported that budgets for UConn, the CSUS and the Connecticut Community Colleges increased by more than 200% over the past two decades. In a recent report released by the Legislature’s bipartisan Program Review and Investigations Committee, UConn and the CSUS were ranked ninth and 11th among peer institutions as the most expensive public universities in the U.S. Higher education leaders warned that with more cuts in state appropriations to higher education, they would have few options but to further raise charges.

Maine

Projected deficit for FY12: $1 billion

New Gov. Paul LePage appointed a committee to review all budgets and issue recommendations for the new biennium, FY12 and FY13, by the end of January. The budget is due in the Legislature on Feb. 11. Rep. Sawin Millet, formerly the ranking Republican on the Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee and a veteran lawmaker, is heading the team of budget advisers. He was recently named director of the Department of Administration and Financial Services. LePage is expected to have the support of a Republican Legislature in making his budget recommendations for the new biennium.

Revenue collections are up by $365 million, driven by state income taxes, both individual and corporate. University of Maine economist Jim Breece said corporate tax revenue has come in above estimates all year. But he warned that the increase is the result of a change in how Maine assesses the corporate tax, not because Maine corporations have turned a profit.

K-12

LePage has not yet named his choice for education commissioner to succeed Angela Faherty who was appointed acting commissioner in July 2010, when Commissioner Susan Gendron left the post to become policy director for the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium. The outlook for the department remains uncertain as speculation grows about how resources will be allocated. LePage denies reports he will downsize or eliminate the department.

Higher Education

The University of Maine System submitted a budget request to former Gov. John Baldacci requesting a $7.1 million increase for FY12 and $7.4 million for FY13 for a total of $14.5 million in the biennium. If this request is approved, students would see a 3% increase in tuition rates. If the request is rejected, a 5% increase in tuition rates would be adopted. Maine’s community college system is requesting a 3.5% budget increase in each year of the biennium for a total increase of 7% over the next two fiscal years. No increase in tuition is factored into the request. Democratic legislators have indicated that at the very least, funding for the UMaine System might remain at current levels, but most agree that some cuts are inevitable.

Massachusetts

Projected deficit for FY12: $1.5 billion

As a part of his efforts to control spending, Gov. Deval Patrick begin his second term looking at a budget that will cut $1 billion to $1.5 billion out of state government. He is also looking to exercise greater control of pensions and health care costs and may cut local aid payments. His budget will be released on Jan. 26.

K-12

According to a report recently by the Boston Foundation and the Massachusetts Business Alliance for Education, municipal health care costs have increased dramatically, surpassing increases in state education aid (Chapter 70).

The net effect has been to cut spending for textbooks and teacher-training programs and increase class sizes. Boston Foundation President Paul Grogan said the report “puts into clear and compelling focus what many have suspected for some time: that our good-faith efforts to close the achievement gap are being erased by the cost of health care.”

At issue is a state law that requires municipal employees to bargain collectively over health care plans, while state employees are exempt from this requirement. The result has been that health care costs for state employees have risen much more slowly than those for municipal employees. In the coming legislative session, lawmakers are expected to take up the issue of exempting collective bargaining provisions that apply to health care plans for municipal employees.

According to Linda Noonan, executive director of the Massachusetts Business Alliance for Education, “Our significant investment in education since 1993, and the gains in student achievement that followed, are at risk due to the uncontrolled costs of employee health care.”

Higher Education

All public institutions are preparing for additional cuts in campus budgets for FY12. University of Massachusetts Chancellor Robert Holub anticipates a cut of $18 million for the new fiscal year, which begins on July 1, 2011. This is based on a level-funded budget and no new stimulus funds. Trustees will not set rates for tuition and fees until June. In-state students currently pay $11,732 in tuition and fees.

All public campuses—UMass, the State Universities (formerly the State Colleges) and the Community Colleges—are anticipating cuts of 7%.

New Hampshire

Projected deficit for FY12: $680 million

K-12

Following years of wrangling and lawsuits, New Hampshire will tackle a new education funding formula as Gov. John Lynch begins his fourth term. But already, many communities are complaining their school budgets will suffer.

Higher Education

After three consecutive fiscal years of level-funded budgets, the University System of New Hampshire requested an increase of $5 million in FY12 and an additional $5 million in FY13, with a total increase of $10 million for the biennium. The Community College System of New Hampshire is requesting a 4% increase in its budgets for FY12 and FY13.

Rhode Island

Projected deficit for FY12: $295 million

Gov. Lincoln Chafee begins his first term, as the state budget office is requesting all agencies to apply a 15% cut to their budget requests for FY12.

K-12

Commissioner of Education Deborah Gist will not comply with the state budget office’s request to cut 15% out of her budget and is requesting an increase of $45.5 million or a 5.3% increase in state funding.  Approximately half of this amount would offset the loss of stimulus funds and the remaining amount would be distributed to local school districts in education aid.

Higher Education

The Board of Governors for Higher Education also rejected a request from the state budget office to cut budgets by 15% and instead approved a $31 million or 22% increase in funding for academic year 2011-12 for the public higher education system. There would be no increases in tuition or fees.

The Rhode Island Higher Education Assistance Authority is requesting an increase of  $21 million in funding. Executive Director William Hurry said a cut of 15% would mean reducing scholarships for college-bound students.

Vermont

Projected deficit for FY12: $112+ million

In fall 2010, the deficit was projected to be $112 million, but according to the Vermont General Assembly’s financial analysts, it may be closer to $150 million.

K-12

As part of the Challenges for Change initiative, which cuts spending across the board in state and local governments, Vermont’s school boards were asked to reduce their budgets by 2.3%, allowing for a reduction in property taxes. In mid-December, however, education officials reported that the state’s 60 school districts could not meet the $23.2 million in voluntary spending reductions. Some districts reduced their budgets by a combined total of $4 million in budget proposals for FY12. With the majority of districts not being able to meet the targeted cuts, new Gov. Peter Shumlin announced that property tax rates will remain the same for FY12 and suggested using $19 million in federal stimulus funds to bridge the gap.

Voters will have a chance to weigh in on school budgets and the property tax rates on the first Tuesday in March, Town Meeting Day, when most school boards present their budgets for the coming fiscal year.

Higher Education

Trustees for the University of Vermont approved a budget for $289 million for FY11, which included a 4% increase in tuition. The budget reflects a 1.4% increase over the previous year. In prior years, tuition increased at the rate of 6%. For FY11, the in-state tuition rate is $12,180, and the out-of-state rate is $30,744.

Trustees for the Vermont State Colleges approved an increase in tuition rates of 3% for FY11. In the previous year, tuition rates increased by 6.8%. For FY 11, in-state tuition at the Vermont State Colleges is $8,232. Out-of-state tuition is $18,792.

Carolyn Morwick is a consultant at NEBHE and former director of the Caucus of New England State Legislatures.



It’s over. Gone are the acrimonious debates, boisterous crowds, vicious campaign attack ads, incessant robo calls and campaign paraphernalia cluttering street corners, highways, lawns and sidewalks. The voters have spoken in New England and across the nation.

Nationally, Republicans swept races for governor, the state legislatures and the U.S. Congress. According to the National Conference of ...]]>

It’s over. Gone are the acrimonious debates, boisterous crowds, vicious campaign attack ads, incessant robo calls and campaign paraphernalia cluttering street corners, highways, lawns and sidewalks. The voters have spoken in New England and across the nation.

Nationally, Republicans swept races for governor, the state legislatures and the U.S. Congress. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), Republicans now control the U.S. House of Representatives 240 to 186, where they added more than 60 seats, with nine races still to be resolved. In the U.S. Senate, Democrats managed to hang on by a margin of 53 to 46. The results of Alaska’s Senate race are still to be determined.

NCSL also reported that Republicans added seats in state legislatures across the U.S., with the largest gains in the East, especially in New England.

Republican gains in state legislatures by region

East                          229
Midwest                   211
South                        177
West                          94

Nationwide, Republicans picked up five additional governorships. NCSL reports that 32 states will be under new governors, including Connecticut, Maine, Rhode Island and Vermont. Four of the six New England governors are Democrats. An Independent and a Republican round out the field. Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont will have new legislative leaders.

Voting trends

Nationwide, voting trends played a huge role in the outcome. Less than 21% of 18- to 29-year-olds showed up at the polls, compared with 51% in 2008, when President Barack Obama was elected.

Also, Independent voters switched their leanings in the 2010 elections, according to William A. Galston, senior fellow in Governance Studies at the Brookings Institution. In 2006, 57% of Independents voted for Democrats, while 39% voted for Republicans. In the 2010 election, 55% of Independents chose Republicans, while 39% voted for Democrats. The Pew Research Center reports that “conservatives” as a share of total Independents rose from 29% in 2006 to 36% in 2010.”

Gallup reported similar results, adding that moderates declined from 46% to 41% from 2006 to 2010. The Blue Dog Coalition or Blue Dog Democrats—fiscal conservatives with centrist positions—lost its clout in the 2010 midterm elections. Less than half were re-elected. New England’s lone Blue Dog, Congressman, U.S. Rep. Michael Michaud of Maine, was re-elected surviving a challenge by Republican Jason Levesque.

Redistricting

With current voting trends expected to continue into the next election cycle, the role of state legislatures in 2012, will be especially significant as states begin the process of redistricting. The drawing of state legislative districts and congressional districts must include the latest census figures. The party in power has everything to say about how these districts will be drawn.

In the upcoming redistricting, Massachusetts is expected to lose one congressional seat, reducing the number of seats to nine. No other New England state is expected to lose any congressional seats.

The loss of an additional congressional seat contributes to an already gloomy outlook for the region, which had claimed key leadership positions when Democrats were the party in power in Washington.

The outlook for state budgets

For the past two budget cycles, governors and legislators have had to continue to make deep budget cuts but federal stimulus funds provided some help in preserving jobs and services. For FY 2012, with stimulus funds just about dried up, state budget cuts promise to be severe. Medicaid will continue to be a budget-buster in all states. Reducing health care costs will be a priority, as the Health Care Act or Obama Care requires that states develop systems where consumers can purchase health care by 2014. Governors are expressing concern that the technology required to design such systems will be extremely costly and there will be no funds for such expenses.

NCSL executive director William Pound expects higher education to be on the chopping block, as well, despite rhetoric form Democrats and Republicans that educational attainment is a key factor in restoring the American economy and making the U.S. competitive in the global marketplace.

New England highlights

• Democrat Dan Malloy wins governor’s race in Connecticut defeating Republican Tom Foley
• Democrat Richard Blumenthal will replace outgoing U.S. Sen. Chris Dodd, also a Democrat.
• Connecticut Democratic U.S. House members prevail in hard-fought contests.
• Maine elects Republican Paul LePage as governor
• Republicans take control of Maine state Legislature
• Massachusetts re-elects Gov. Deval Patrick and all members of the Bay State’s congressional delegation
• Republicans pick up 15 seats in Massachusetts state Legislature
• Ballot question to cut sales tax is rejected by Massachusetts voters
• New Hampshire Republicans take back control of state Legislature
• Republican Kelly Ayotte wins U.S. Senate race, while fellow Republicans Charlie Bass and Frank Guinta, former mayor of Manchester, prevail in congressional races
• New Hampshire’s Democratic Gov. John Lynch is re-elected to unprecedented fourth term
• Rhode Island elects Lincoln Chafee, its first Independent governor in 156 years
• Vermonters elect Democrat Peter Shumlin as governor
• U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy, a Vermont Democrat, wins easily
• Vermont voters give 17-year-olds the right to vote.

State by state

Connecticut elects Democratic governor, keeps Democrats in DC, statehouse

In a striking similarity to Florida’s 2000 presidential election results, Connecticut’s Secretary of State Susan Byciewicz found herself in the hot seat, as Bridgeport’s votes became the focus of determining the outcome of the governor’s race. After the final tallies of Bridgeport’s votes were made available on Friday, Nov. 5, Byciewicz’s office declared Malloy the winner in the governor’s race.

Attorney General Blumenthal will fill the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Dodd. Blumenthal defeated Linda McMahon of World Wrestling Entertainment who poured $50 million of her own money into the race. In Connecticut’s congressional races, John Larson handily won his bid for re-election in the 1st district. Joe Courtney prevailed in the 2^nd district, while Rosa DeLauro won in the 3^rd district. Connecticut’s 4^th and 5^th districts saw the closest races where first term Congressman Jim Himes won a very close race against challenger state Sen. Dan Debicella in the 4^th district. Chris Murphy beat back a strong challenge from state Sen. Sam Caligiuri in Connecticut’s 5^th district.

Connecticut’s General Assembly remains under control of Democrats, though Republicans made inroads. The House is poised to re-elect Chris Donovan as speaker, while Don Williams has the support of his Democratic colleagues to continue as Senate president. Former House Majority Leader Denise Merrill won her bid for secretary of state.

Governor

Dannel Malloy (D) 4
Thomas Foley (R)
Tom Marsh (I)
Warren Mossler (I)

U.S. Senate
Richard Blumenthal (D) 4
Linda McMahon (R)

U. S. House of Representatives

District 1
John Larson (D) 4
Ann Brickley (R)

District 2
Joe Courtney (D) 4
Janet Peckinpaugh (R)

District 3
Rosa DeLauro (D) 4
Jerry Labriola (R)

District 4
James Himes (D) 4
Dan Debicella (R)

District 5
Christopher Murphy (D)4
Sam Caligiuri (R)

Maine goes Republican across the board

Republican Paul LePage, the mayor of Waterville, edged out Independent Elliot Cutler to become Maine’s first Republican governor since 1990. The Democrat, former Senate President Libby Mitchell, came in third.

In the state’s two congressional districts, Chellie Pingree , won re-election in the 1^st district and Michaud in the 2^nd district. Democrats did not fare as well in the state Legislature where Republicans now have 77-to-74 edge in the House and a 20-to-14 edge in the Senate, with one recount possible. This is the first time since the 1970s that Republicans have controlled both branches. Kevin Raye appears to have the support of his colleagues to lead the Senate. Four Republicans are vying for speaker of the House, including Stacey Fitts, Paul David, Patrick Flood and Robert Nutting. Emily Cain has expressed interest in the Minority Leader’s post. Cain chaired the Appropriations Committee. Seth Berry is also interested in this position. Republicans will caucus on Nov. 12 to elect their leaders; Democrats have tentatively scheduled a caucus for Nov. 18.

Maine voters approved a $5 million bond issue to increase access to dental care in Maine by a margin of 52% to 48%.

Governor

Paul LePage (R) 4
Elliot Cutler (I)
Libby Mitchell (D)

U.S. House of Representatives

District 1
Chellie Pingree (D) 4
Dean Scontras (R)

District 2
Michael Michaud (D) 4
Jason Levesque (R)

Massachusetts stays Democratic , small gains by GOP In Mass. House

Massachusetts voters re-elected Gov. Patrick who prevailed over Republican Charles Baker and Independent Tim Cahill. Massachusetts Democrats turned out in large numbers to mitigate the effects of the Scott Brown election and re-elected Democrats at every level. Patrick had 48% of the vote, Baker 42% and Cahill 8%.

All members of the Massachusetts congressional delegation running for re-election won handily. Retiring Congressman Bill Delahunt’s seat stayed in the Democratic column, going to District Attorney William Keating, who prevailed in a close election defeating Republican state Rep. Jeff Perry. Barney Frank who faced his toughest re-election to date, won 54% to Sean Bielat’s 43%.

Republicans did pick up 17 seats in the State House, the party’s largest gain in decades. There were no Republican gains in the Senate. The leadership in the House and Senate is not expected to change with Senate President Therese Murray and House Speaker Robert DeLeo.

Voters rejected Question 3 on the ballot, which would have reduced the sales tax from 6.25% to 3%. Voters also approved removing the sales tax on alcoholic beverages, which by state law is already subject to an excise tax. Revenue from the sales tax, however, had been allocated to support substance abuse and prevention programs.

Governor

Deval Patrick (D) 4
Charles Baker (R)
Tim Cahill (I)
Jill Stein (Green Party)

U.S. House of Representatives

District 1
John Olver (D) 4
Bill Gunn (R)
Michael Engel (I)

District 2
Richard Neal (D) 4
Tom Wesley (R)

District 3
Jim McGovern (D) 4
Marty Lamb (R)

District 4
Barney Frank (D) 4
Sean Bielat (R)

District 5
Niki Tsongas (D) 4
Jon Golnik (R),
Dale Brown (I)
Bob Clark (I)

District 6
John Tierney (D) 4
Bill Hudak (R)

District 7
Edward Markey (D) 4
Gerry Dembrowski (R)

District 8
Michael Capuano (D) 4

District 9
Stephen Lynch (D) 4
Vernon Harrison (R)
Phil Dunkelbarger (I)

District 10
William Keating (D) 4
Jeff Perry (R)
Maryanne Lewis (I)
Jim Sheets (I)
Joe VanNes (Bring Home the Troops)

New Hampshire sweeps in Republicans

New Hampshire followed a nationwide trend and elected Republicans to the U.S. Congress and the state legislature. Gov. Lynch, a Democrat, was elected to an unprecedented fourth two-year term.

Democratic Congressman Paul Hodes lost his bid for the U.S. Senate to state Attorney General Ayotte, who had the backing of New Hampshire Republicans as well as Sarah Palin and the Tea Party. Republican Guinta beat incumbent Carol Shea-Porter in New Hampshire’s 1^st district, while former Congressman Bass edged out Democrat Ann Kuster in the 2^nd district.

Republicans swept elections in the state legislature, which is the largest legislative body in the United States with 424 members. It now appears that Republicans will control the House by a margin of 300 to 100. In June 2010, Democrats outnumbered Republicans 224 to 176. The New Hampshire Senate also went to Republicans who now outnumber Democrats, 19 to 5. Democrats held a majority of 14 to 10 for the past four years.

Governor

John Lynch (D) 4
John Stephen (R)

U.S. Senate

Kelly Ayotte (R) 4
Paul Hodes (D)

U.S. House of Representatives

District 1
Frank Guinta (R) 4
Carol Shea Porter (D)

District 2
Charlie Bass (R) 4
Ann Kuster (D)

RI elects Independent for gov, keeps Democrats in Congress, statehouse

For the first time in more than 150 years, Rhode Island voters elected a governor who is not affiliated with either the Democratic or Republican party. Independent Chafee edged out Republican John Robitaille 36% to 34%. with Democrat Frank Caprio placing third at 23%. President Obama did not endorse Caprio in what many saw as showing deference to Chafee who supported Obama for president.

In Rhode Island’s congressional races, U.S. Rep. James Langevin won re-election in Rhode Island’s 2^nd district, while Democratic Mayor of Providence, David Cicilline was elected in the 1^st district, replacing Patrick Kennedy, who did not seek re-election.

Rhode Island’s General Assembly remains in the hands of Democrats. Current Speaker Gordon Fox is expected to keep his post, while Senate President Teresa Paiva Weed appears to be the choice of her colleagues for the next legislative session.

Governor
Lincoln Chafee (I) 4
John Robitaille (R)
Frank Caprio (D)
Ken Block (Moderate Party)

U.S. House of Representatives

District 1
David Cicilline (D) 4
John Loughlin (R)
Gregory Raposa (I)

District 2
James Langevin (D) 4
Mark Zaccaria (R)

Vermont goes decidedly Democrat

Democrat Peter Shumlin was elected governor in a close race with Lt. Governor Brian Dubie. Only 4,000 votes separated the two candidates. Vermont law states that if both candidates get less than 50% of the vote, the legislature decides who will be elected. Dubie has indicated he has no intention of pursuing a challenge.

At the congressional level, both U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy and U.S. Rep. Peter Welch won re-election.

Completing a decidedly Democratic victory at all level of government, the Vermont General Assembly remains in the hands of Democrats. The House gives Democrats a clear majority, 93 Democrats, 49 Republicans, five Progressives and three Independents. Republicans picked up a seat in the Senate, but Democrats control the chamber 22 to 8.

Vermont voters approved a ballot measure to give 17-year-olds the right to vote if they turn 18 by the time of the General Election.

Governor
Peter Shumlin (D) 4
Brian Dubie (R)

U.S. Senate

Patrick Leahy (D) 4
Len Britton (R)

U.S. House of Representatives
Peter Welch (D) 4
Paul Beaudry (R)

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Carolyn Morwick is a consultant at NEBHE and former director of the Caucus of New England State Legislatures.