Filed Under: President's Post

Fiscal year 2013–14 will be the third and final year of implementation of the state’s new outcomes-based funding formula, as called for in the Complete College Tennessee Act. Under the act, productivity rather than sheer enrollment drives state funding distribution. 

Based on this final phase, MTSU’s 2013–2014 recurring state funding will be reduced by $1,752,100. However, the Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC) voted at its November 2012 meeting to propose new state funding totaling $35,500,000 for higher education institutions. MTSU’s share of the proposed new funding will be $3,470,600. Thus, MTSU’s state funding could actually increase by a net of $1,718,500.

The commission voted to recommend $7,590,000 in Capital Maintenance funds for MTSU projects, including the Murphy Center roof/ceiling replacement project; the Central Plant cooling tower replacement project; the Absorption Chiller/ Tower replacement project; the Jones Hall plumbing update project; and various projects entailing electrical updates to campus buildings.

THEC’s recommendations have been submitted to the Department of Finance and Administration for consideration in the proposed budget that Governor Bill Haslam will be submitting to the state legislature in the coming weeks. At that point, we will have more information regarding our likely 2013–14 state appropriations.