Massachusetts Spending on Corrections Surpasses Public Higher Education

For the first time in memory, Massachusetts will spend more money on corrections than on public higher education.  A widely publicized bulletin issued on Nov. 24 by the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation details the situation and analyzes the trend.

The MTF study points out the tremendous shift in priorities implied by this trend.  Public higher education makes an enormous contribution to the state‚Äôs economic future, and this is generally recognized. But the 29 percent cuts in the late 1980's and the current cuts of 27 percent (2001-î2004) have been devastating. These wild fluctuations in funding severely challenge the institutions to maintain their missions and honor their commitments (such as collective bargaining agreements). The study praises college officials for their handling of the crisis.

As a percentage of the overall state budget, higher education funding has gone from a high of 6.5 percent in 1988 to less than 3.5 percent in 2004. In inflation adjusted dollars this brings higher education funding down to the levels of thirty years ago.

In fiscal year 2004 the total appropriations for the campuses and student financial aid is $816 million compared to $830 million for prisons and jails. From 2001 to 2004 the UMass budget was cut 30.2 percent and community colleges were cut 22.7 percent. Meanwhile the appropriations for county jails went up by 1.3 percent and the Dept. of Corrections went up by 6.7 percent.While no one denies the importance of corrections, this shift in priorities is disturbing.  The state's recent cuts to higher education, as the study points out, "raise serious doubts about the ability of even the most talented and dedicated leaders to build a first class system." It goes on to note that over half of the college-bound Massachusetts high school graduates attend our public colleges and universities.

The study recommends that the Governor and the Legislature "engage in serious discussion - and reach bipartisan agreement" about providing the structure and resources for the long term success of our public university and colleges.