A battle born before the beginning of the 2012 legislative session is coming to a head. Governor Rick Scott told lawmakers to fund education and leave tuition alone.

“With level funding of the universities, they shouldn’t be increasing tuition,” said Governor Scott.

Scott got most of what he wanted. Lawmakers passed a budget with no tuition increases, but at the same time, cut university spending by 300 million dollars, asking schools to use reserves to make up the different.

But what happened here was just round one. Scott signed the budget with no tuition increase, and then vetoed a bill to allow UF and FSU to raise rates as much as they want.

Now, it’s the University System’s Board of Governors turn to decide whether or not to raise rates. Most schools are asking for the max allowed by state law, 15 percent. Chancellor Frank Brogan says good luck.

“Fifteen percent is going to be a though ask this year because of the ongoing 15 percent increases, but also knowing the recession is taking its toll on everyone and that includes students,” said Chancellor Brogan.

“I know a lot of students that took semesters off, because they didn’t have money to pay for school and things like that,” said FSU Senior Jeremy Shaw.

Reporter: You’re afraid they will price students out of a college education?
“Pretty much yes. That’s what it’s looking like. As long as we keep on this upward expediential trend people aren’t going to be able to go,” answered FSU Junior Jodeci Richards.
Even if schools raise tuition the max amount it will only make up for about a third of the state funding cut.

UF is the only public university as of right now asking for an increase less than a 15 percent. The school wants a nine percent tuition increase. FSU hasn’t finalized its tuition request yet, but the max is on the table.