Date: Tue, 17 May
From: "Joanne Blum" JBLUM@massteacher.org
Subject: Preliminary Senate Budget Information

The Senate Ways and Means Committee released its version of the FY06 budget today. Amendments to the budget are due Thursday at 6:00 p.m. The budget will be debated on the floor starting on Monday, May 23.

The Senate followed the lead of the House and included very few "outside sections" and few policy changes.

85/15 - Health Insurance Premiums
The Senate included the exact language as the House passed. As of Jan. 1, 2006 - all employees who are currently paying 20 percent will be paying 15 percent. State employees who are now paying 25 percent will pay 20 percent.

Tuition Retention (Outside Section 96)
All tuition and fees received by the University and state and community colleges will be retained by each respective board.

Funding
The total increase of higher education is $30 million over FY05 - including supplemental appropriations made during the year. In inflation-adjusted (FY05) dollars, under the Senate Ways and Means proposal, total higher education funding will be about $138 million below what is was in FY01.

Campus Budgets

The total funding for all campuses has increased approximately $41 million.

Detailed campus spread sheet (requires Excel to view).