Students could pay higher tuition and fees if proposed budget cuts from the Board of Supervisors are approved during the spring state Legislative session.
LSU System Executive Vice President Bill Silvia said at the board’s Feb. 19 meeting that all universities in the system face a $20 million cut for the 2004-05 fiscal year. Of the $20 million, LSU would receive an $8 million cut.
The proposed cuts follow the January announcement from Gov. Kathleen Blanco’s administration that all state higher education could receive less in state funding, citing a greater need for money in healthcare.
Overall, higher education cuts in the state will be $48 million, including the proposed $20 million cut to the LSU System.
Most of the cuts are expected to affect insurance and pay raises for LSU System employees.
Silvia said tuition and fee increases are not definite. The Board of Supervisors might be able to find other ways to meet the needs of the budget.
“This is very early in the process,” Silvia said. “This does not automatically mean that fees are going to go through the roof.”
The board could increase the Academic Excellence Fee, which Silvia said at the board’s meeting has risen 30 percent in the last five years. The current fee is $245 per semester.
The state Legislative session — in which the budget will be discussed and voted on — begins this month.