* MIAMI – Florida’s two largest public universities would be able to raise tuition as high as they want, essentially becoming semiprivate, under a novel budget plan that is gaining support among influential policymakers.
If the University of Florida and Florida State University win approval, the Legislature would no longer dictate their annual tuition and spending. The plan would circumvent the political pressure that has kept state rates among the nation’s lowest and give the schools unfettered control of their own budgets.
The schools – which combined enroll most of Florida’s public university students – said they cannot grow or plan effectively unless they charge more tuition and become more independent of legislative controls.
“There is not nearly as much income coming to the university as is needed to operate a balanced program,” UF President Charles Young said. “The institutions which are the peers of UF are, for the most part, raising $50 million, $75 million, $100 million more a year than the University of Florida is.”
To take effect, the plan must first be voted on by the Legislature, which is unlikely to take up the issue before its session ends next month. But because it has the support of top lawmakers, lobbyists and Gov. Jeb Bush, it will likely be on the agenda next year.
If it were approved, Young and FSU President T.K. Wetherell promised, tuition would be stable in the program’s first year. It is now less than $2,700 a year for undergraduates who are Florida residents.
Young said the schools would not commit to capping future increases, but Wetherell said they would consider it.

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