For decades, Florida's public universities were clearly public. Taxpayers covered the majority of education costs, and students and families made up the rest through tuition. But that's changing. State university funding is dropping. Tuition is rising. The result: the burden of supporting state universities is shifting from state taxpayers to students and their families. This year, for the first time in Florida, those students and their families will be responsible for paying more than half the cost of a state university education, with tax money paying the rest. Ten years ago, the tuition share was less than 25 percent. Lawmakers didn't mean for this to happen. It just did, said state Rep. Marlene O'Toole, a Lady Lake Republican and chairwoman of the House higher education budget subcommittee.
http://www2.tbo.com/news/breaking-news/2012/jul/22/as-funding-falls-families-carry-heavier-tuition-lo-ar-438248/
