In 1979, the Florida Legislature passed a bill promising the public universities that it would match donations. This helped the university system grow in Florida, and especially helped FAU expand quickly. But the more popular the matching funds program became, the harder it was for the state to keep up with the payment.
Last spring, the Legislature doled out $40 million in matching funds to the 11 public universities, about the same amount that was cut from their budget. But that money is only a fraction of the $124 million the Legislature still owes, a hefty sum that has held up new buildings and endowed programs that would allow universities to keep up with the ever increasing number of new students these schools see each year.
The way this program works is that donations between $100,000 and $2 million are matched, but not fully, by the state. Donations over $2 million are matched 100 percent. As for buildings, the state will pay for half, provided the university raises the other half through donations, according the Palm Beach Post.
Ití_s an excellent plan on paper, but lately thatí_s where it has remained. Efforts to reduce the burden of the state by issuing bonds or capping the amount the state has to match have fizzled at best, according to the < Post>. While these measures may still set back universities, ití_s sadly the sanest solution in a state that gives a lot of lip service to the idea of an educated workforce but puts little effort into bringing such a workforce about.
One of the ideas was even to abolish the matching funds program altogether, but the Legislature hasní_t even bothered to do that because they doní_t have to worry about honoring it. Thatí_s how the Legislature works, according to Doreen Knapp of the Association for Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges. She told the Chronicle of Higher Education, íåIf legislators doní_t have to fund these programs then why go through the trouble of repealing them? Repealing the matching funds program would send a clear signal that the Legislature doesní_t care about higher education. Sadly, they get away with the far more subtle approach of cutting funding and shortchanging the universities.
Perhaps the most appalling thing about this whole debacle is that university officials treat the matching funds program as a favor and not the law that it is. They refuse to hold the state responsible for whatí_s essentially a breach of contract. If the university system is going to be treated like a business then letí_s go all out and hold the state accountable for breach of contract. But instead the universities take this as another opportunity to whimper like puppies and lick JEB!í_s hand in an effort to get a fraction of what they deserve. They did it when their budgets got cut and theyí_ll do it again when they have to raise tuition next fall.
Alas, there may be some hope. David J. Mealor, a Republican (gasp) and chairman of the higher-education subcommittee told the Chronicle that the Legislature wants to resolve the matching funds issue. íåNow we are in a position where we want to honor previous promises.
Weí_ll see how true this is come March when the Legislature convenes.
