Dearborn, Flint budgets strained

The budgets for U-M-Dearborn and U-M-Flint call for a 2.4 percent tuition increase, contingent on the state making good on its promise to restore some of last year's cuts.

U-M-Dearborn's $81 million budget anticipates a state funding reduction of 2 percent, a 1.5 percent salary increase, higher costs for health care benefits and the hiring of additional faculty to support increased enrollments.

"To go another year without providing adequate compensation to faculty and staff is inconceivable." —Juan Mestas, U-M-Flint chancellor

For the second year, Dearborn has budgeted for a 1.5 percent increase in enrollment, even though it experienced double that number of new students in the fiscal year that just ended. Chancellor Daniel Little told members of the Board of Regents July 15 the budget includes student financial aid increases larger than the tuition hike.

Little expressed concern that the flexibility in the campus's spending plan disappeared with the state budget cuts of last year, echoing President Mary Sue Coleman's statement that continued erosion of state appropriations threatens the academic core.

"We think it is no bargain to anyone in the state to let quality suffer," Little told regents.

The U-M-Flint budget of $55.96 million calls for a 3 percent increase in state funding, flat enrollment and additional financial aid to offset the tuition hike. Following a year in which Flint campus employees did not receive raises, Chancellor Juan Mestas recommended a 3 percent salary increase.

"To go another year without providing adequate compensation to faculty and staff is inconceivable," Mestas told regents, adding that last year not one person complained to him about the lack of an increase.

"[The salary increase is] a good faith effort and is the most we can afford," he said. "We are in this together, and we'll get out of this together."

More Stories

• Interim dean of students named
• Detroit Arab American study portrays a complex population
• U-M and AATA to provide free travel on fixed-route buses
• Musical theater workshop finds home at U-M
• Budget, tuition increase contingent on state support
• Dearborn, Flint budgets strained
• Healthy finances, challenging future for Hospitals & Health Centers
• Athletics projects budget surplus
• Engineering secures $40M government research contract
• Annenberg Foundation gives $2M toward new Ford School
• Student services spared cuts
• Campus takes efforts to fight West Nile spread
• Mestas will continue to lead U-M-Flint
• In the game of life, insured may sacrifice to help uninsured
• Architect tapped for Kelsey Museum project
• Service to keep families, friends in touch with campus life
• Martin tells Congress steroid-testing standards are needed
• Advice from DPS: When severe weather hits, turn to radio or Web
• UMHS named one of the country's best
• Strong named chief financial officer of UMHHC
• Spotlight: The music man, with strings attached
• Ann Arbor Art Fairs Schedule
• Beauty is in the eyes of these beholders
• Smart cruise control eliminates traffic jams
• Movies can alter hormone levels
• Boomers' unexpected ethos: Work until we drop?
• Pediatricians are plentiful, but not in poorer states
• Basic RNA enzyme studies promise single-molecule biosensors
• Hospital standards for high-risk surgeries save lives
• Don't miss: 'I went to a garden party'
• Photo: Hanging in there
• Photo: Happy birthday, Mr. President
• Photo: Red, white, and Maize and Blue