Florida Set for New Cut in Spending on Colleges - LIZETTE ALVAREZ, NY Times

Gov. Rick Scott has called for an increase in education spending this year, but not for colleges and universities. A proposal in the House would reduce state financing by nearly $250 million next year and would allow universities to increase tuition by as little as 8 percent and as much as 15 percent. A measure in the Senate would cut more than $500 million and would allow smaller institutions that are defined as colleges to raise tuition by 3 percent (the full-scale universities would not be permitted to raise tuition). The cuts in Florida began four years ago and have continued unabated. Since 2008, state spending on education has dropped by 24 percent and is now at 2003 levels.