Maine’s university system trustees approve budget with 2.3 percent tuition hike

6 years ago

Students heading to one of Maine’s public universities next fall will see their tuition rise by about 2.3 percent under a budget backed Monday by system trustees, but they also could see extra financial help from their schools.

The University of Maine System Board of Trustees passed a $551 million budget that included inflation-based tuition hike during a meeting at the University of Maine at Fort Kent. The 2019 budget is a roughly $11 million, or 2 percent, increase over the current year’s.

Prior to the vote, some trustees said they were hesitant to increase tuition, but others said the system needed to bring in revenue to invest in campuses.

“I feel like we should hold the line on student costs,” said Shawn Moody, a trustee and Republican gubernatorial candidate. Moody cast the lone dissenting vote against the proposed budget, arguing the system could find cuts to make this year and hope for more state funding in the next budget cycle.

The County is pleased to feature content from our sister company, Bangor Daily News. To read the rest of “Maine’s university system trustees approve budget with 2.3 percent tuition hike,” an article by contributing Bangor Daily News staff writerNick McCrea, please follow this link to the BDN online.