Betsy Russell reports a higher education budget for next year with an 8.6 percent increase in state general funds has cleared the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee on a unanimous, 17-0 vote. Under the budget, higher ed funding in fiscal year 2013 would be slightly below where Idaho funded the state’s colleges and universities in 2006.

Democrats on the committee proposed a slightly higher budget, funding 80 percent of eligible occupancy costs at universities, rather than the 55 percent funded in the successful motion; that came to $3.5 million in the Democratic plan, vs. $2.4 million in the approved plan, for an overall 9.2 percent increase in general funds for universities next year. Rep. Shirley Ringo, D-Moscow, noted that much of the increase for universities next year goes to specific research funding and for enrollment growth, which she said, “just helps the universities pretty much maintain.” Rep. Jim Patrick, R-Twin Falls, commented, “Any time we don’t fund occupancy costs maybe we shouldn’t build a building.” But that motion failed on a 5-12 vote, with two Republicans, Patrick and Sen. Mitch Toryanski, R-Boise, joining the three Democrats who were present in supporting it. The committee than voted unanimously for the original motion.