<html><head><style type="text/css"><!-- DIV {margin:0px;} --></style></head><body><div style="font-family:times new roman,new york,times,serif;font-size:12pt;color:#000000;">Our View: ... Second verse, same as the first<br> - Idaho Statesman<br>Now, let’s take every argument about the Boise school levy and apply it here. Parents and students will soon know how much more they’ll have to pay for a college degree — and how much more slack they’ll have to pick up from the “hold-the-line” Legislature.<br><br>The proposed increases are a mixed bag. The University of Idaho wants an 8.4 percent increase, Idaho State University and Lewis-Clark State College want 7 percent each and Boise State University wants another 5 percent. Let’s not celebrate that 5 percent too much; after all, how many parents and working college students pocketed a 5 percent raise last year?<br><br>Let’s call it what it is. The state is taking one more incremental step
to shirk its role in contributing to Idaho’s university system.<br><br>The State Board of Education will set tuitions today. The board — and the universities — don’t have many options. Not after the 2011 Legislature refused to look at the state’s tax code, squeezed another $7.7 million from the system and approved a $209.8 million figure that is actually lower than Idaho’s 2000-01 higher ed budget.<br><br>Thanks again, 2011 Legislature, and Gov. Butch Otter.<br><br>Your generosity knows no bounds. <br></div></body></html>