Republican leaders are attempting to take millions of dollars in state aid from Michigan State University and Wayne State University, claiming the two schools violated that state’s tuition cap.
NBC25’s sister station, WDIV-TV, if the bill passes, MSU would be forced to cough up about $18 million and Wayne State would give up approximately $13 million. Rep. Bob Genetski of Saugatuck says the bill was proposed because many lawmakers feel the two schools didn’t accurately comply with the state’s laws. The Detroit Free Press explains that the controversy surrounds the school’s academic calendar. The schools say they abided by the 7.1% cap because they counted the summer 2011 session, the date at which their hikes began, in last year’s budget. Lawmakers argue that Summer 2011 should be considered part of this year’s budget.
The Detroit Free Press says the House Republicans are calling it an exploitation of a legal loophole. However, in July, the state budget director ruled that the two schools were in "technical compliance" with the law.
Despite that ruling, the new bill aims to get the money back that the schools supposedly over-charged during this year’s tuition increase.
What do you think? Should the Summer 2011 semester be counted for last year’s budget, or did the schools violate the state’s tuition cap? Leave us your comments below.
