A meeting between Gov. Bill Owens and University of Colorado regents on CU’s tuition probably will not happen before the deadline set last week, Owens spokesman Dan Hopkins said Tuesday.
“It’s increasingly unlikely to happen by July 6,” he said. “We’re waiting to hear from the regents, but we haven’t heard anything from them.”
The Joint Budget Committee asked the regents and Owens to meet and report back by July 6 on a compromise over their dispute on tuition. Owens has opposed an increase of as much as 28 percent on some in-state undergraduates, while CU officials have said the increase falls within the spending authority the legislature and Owens approved.
Regent Michael Carrigan said the issue is likely to be discussed at the regents’ meetings today and Thursday, but CU officials are waiting for the governor’s office to come up with a counterproposal.
“Without a specific proposal from the governor, we’re unsure of a purpose for a meeting,” he said.
Owens approved a budget that allowed CU to raise $43.5 million in tuition but said he was shocked when most of the burden fell on in-state undergraduate students. Owens’ staff and the Colorado Commission on Higher Education asked the JBC to cut $13.8 million of the amount CU could raise tuition. CU countered by offering to limit increases to 15 percent for students whose families make less than $80,000 a year. Owens rejected that option, and the JBC asked the two sides to negotiate and reach a compromise by next Wednesday.
Owens sent the regents a letter last week offering several dates to meet, the last of which was today.
The JBC set the deadline because CU needs to tell students how much they will pay before school starts in August.
CCHE spokesman Jason Hopfer said there have been discussions between CU and CCHE staff, but nothing has been agreed upon.
Carrigan said a meeting is still possible before July 6.
Sen. Abel Tapia, the Pueblo Democrat who heads the JBC, could not be reached for comment Tuesday.
Staff writer Arthur Kane can be reached at 303-820-1626 or akane@denverpost.com.
