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Fees may increase for '07
By: Joe Brayman, Contributing Editor

The overcast skies and never-ending harsh temperatures aren't the only things that plague the College; there is a possibility that the student fees may be raised in the upcoming year.

The Board of Trustees announced at their recent meeting that fees might be raised from 3.5 to 5 percent, due to the current budget released by the state.

The Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center released an analysis on April 11 stating, "The budget proposal released by the House Ways and Means Committee today increases unrestricted local aid for education by $220 million, which is $20 million more than the Governor's recommendation. It also provides greater funding for higher education than was proposed by the Governor. In other areas, however, the budget provides less funding than the amounts proposed in House One (the Governor's budget proposal).

"The funding for the university system of state colleges and state community colleges would increase from 2007's fiscal appropriations of about $893 million to $926 million, an increase of 3.7 percent.

"State funding for scholarships to Massachusetts college students would increase by $4.7 million or 5.2 percent under the House Ways and Means Committee's budget proposal. This is a difference with the Governor's proposal, which level-funded state scholarship aid," stated the analysis.

The proposal gave the total public health $31.5 million (6 percent) less than what the governor recommended, but the proposal gave $3.0 million more than in the 2007 fiscal year.

Still, student fees at the College may be raised in the upcoming year, a fact that may not settle well with all students.

"At first I was in shock and was mad," said student Mark Richards. "But, in order to make up for shortfalls in the state's budget, we all must make a small sacrifice."