As you probably know, all states are struggling with how to fund higher education. The Chronicle of Higher Education had this article describing what three of those states are doing, along with treatment of the right of University Professors to collective bargaining in the state of Ohio.
- Colorado: Proposition 103 would raise the state’s personal and corporate income-tax rate from 4.63 percent to 5 percent, and its sales tax from 2.9 percent to 3 percent, for a period of five years, starting with the 2012 tax year. If approved, the increases are expected to generate about $500-million in new revenue to spend on public schools and higher education.
- Louisiana: Voters have already approved a proposal to dedicate a portion of the state’s tobacco-settlement money to a scholarship program, the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students. The program, known as TOPS, distributes several awards, including money to cover the average cost of tuition of a public college in the state.
- Texas: Proposition 3 would authorize the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to issue more bonds for a low-interest, fixed-rate student-loan program that has existed for decades. If passed, the board would be allowed to issue up to $1.8-billion in bonds for the state’s College Access Loan Program. The Texas Tea Party is adamantly opposed to this move.
- Ohio: Issue 2 would overturn Senate Bill 5, which limits collective-bargaining rights for public employees. The bill was approved by state Republican lawmakers and signed into law in March, but its enforcement was put on hold pending the results of next week’s referendum.
The linked article as found at this address on November 1, 2011:
http://chronicle.com/article/4-States-Put-Questions-Related/129590/
