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State to apply for stimulus fund waiver
Chris Curtis
Issue date: 4/2/09 Section: News
04/02/09 - The University of Rhode Island may not be receiving its full share of the federal stimulus money being doled out under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
Under the act, signed into law in February, a portion of the money is allocated to states and comes through the State Fiscal Stabilization Fund program.
Administered by the U.S. Department of Education and backed by a $53.6-billion appropriation, the program will award money to states to help support and maintain education.
To be eligible for funds, states must demonstrate a strong commitment to education.
Under the "maintenance-of-effort" provision, states applying for funds must guarantee that the state will continue to support the educational system at the same level over the next three years, as it did in fiscal year 2006.
Because of dwindling state support, Rhode Island is one of only three states to fail to meet these criteria, said Vice President of Administration Robert Weygand.
"In 2006 the support for the University of Rhode Island was around $85 million, right now it's $62.8 million," Weygand said. "It's unlikely, highly unlikely, that the state of Rhode Island is now going to boost us back up to the $85 million level."
The act does allow for states failing the requirement to apply for a waiver from the Department of Education.
Jack Warner, commissioner of the Rhode Island Board of Governors for Higher Education, was optimistic for the state's chances, citing the economic troubles that led to the decreased funding levels.
"We have high levels of unemployment, the state's been very stressed for funds for several years, we were one of the earliest into the recession, so I think there is a case to be made," Warner said.
If Rhode Island were to receive a waiver, the state would be in line to receive approximately $135 million.
Of these funds, Gov. Donald Carcieri's budget for fiscal year 2010 sets aside $22.2 million for the state's three public institutions of higher education.
Under the act, signed into law in February, a portion of the money is allocated to states and comes through the State Fiscal Stabilization Fund program.
Administered by the U.S. Department of Education and backed by a $53.6-billion appropriation, the program will award money to states to help support and maintain education.
To be eligible for funds, states must demonstrate a strong commitment to education.
Under the "maintenance-of-effort" provision, states applying for funds must guarantee that the state will continue to support the educational system at the same level over the next three years, as it did in fiscal year 2006.
Because of dwindling state support, Rhode Island is one of only three states to fail to meet these criteria, said Vice President of Administration Robert Weygand.
"In 2006 the support for the University of Rhode Island was around $85 million, right now it's $62.8 million," Weygand said. "It's unlikely, highly unlikely, that the state of Rhode Island is now going to boost us back up to the $85 million level."
The act does allow for states failing the requirement to apply for a waiver from the Department of Education.
Jack Warner, commissioner of the Rhode Island Board of Governors for Higher Education, was optimistic for the state's chances, citing the economic troubles that led to the decreased funding levels.
"We have high levels of unemployment, the state's been very stressed for funds for several years, we were one of the earliest into the recession, so I think there is a case to be made," Warner said.
If Rhode Island were to receive a waiver, the state would be in line to receive approximately $135 million.
Of these funds, Gov. Donald Carcieri's budget for fiscal year 2010 sets aside $22.2 million for the state's three public institutions of higher education.
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alexhaffey
Thesis Proposal
posted 7/29/09 @ 7:37 AM EST
"In 2006 the support for the University of Rhode Island was around $85 million, right now it's $62.8 million," interesting...
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