Budget 2012

TAMPA, Fla. – The Florida Legislature Monday, March 5, agreed on a state budget that will slice $300 million in state funding from state universities during the next fiscal year.

University of South Florida will be cut $36.9 million, according to the agreement that will be voted on by both chambers of the Legislature later this week. The budget then goes to Gov. Rick Scott, who can approve it, or veto any portion. The bill also calls for the creation of a new state polytechnic university in Lakeland.

USF President Judy Genshaft told local media she is satisfied with the budget agreement since it applies cuts equitably across the state university system. She also explained that the budget agreement will let students currently enrolled in USF Poly graduate with a USF degree while attending classes at the current Lakeland location. The agreement also has provisions for financial assistance to transition USF Poly to the new state university, and it provides $6 million in funding for the USF College of Pharmacy.

Genshaft, in a news conference Tuesday morning, recognized the tremendous outpouring of support USF received from people throughout the Tampa Bay region after initial state budgets called for as much as a $128 million cut to USF. She said the constant calls, emails and letters were critical in helping to change the tide in Tallahassee to make sure any higher education funding cuts were made equitable across the board.