Merged public college system needs boost in state funds

Faced with mandated pay hikes and surging pension costs, Connecticut’s public college and university system may need an 11 percent increase in state funding over the next two years to maintain current programs, according to a preliminary analysis from system administrators.

The Board of Regents for Higher Education’s Finance and Infrastructure Committee will meet today to begin crafting state funding requests for the 2019-20 and 2020-21 fiscal years — the same period during which Connecticut’s next governor and legislature must plug huge holes in the overall state budget.

The regents’ administration estimates the system — which includes the state universities, the community colleges and the online Charter Oak College — will need nearly $593 million in state operating grants and fringe benefit support in the next fiscal year, and almost $639 million the year after that.

The $593 million request represents a 3.3 percent increase above current state funding for the system, while the $639 million recommended for the 2020-21 fiscal year is 11.3 percent above present state assistance.

Board member Richard J. Balducci, who chairs the finance committee, said state-mandated expenses too often grow faster than the system’s revenues.

“We’re looking at negative numbers year after year and that’s really distressing. We’re in trouble,” said Balducci, who said the state’s role in funding public colleges and universities “is absolutely going to be a big question” for Connecticut’s next governor and legislature.