Student Ballot Implores FSU President to Refuse Tuition Hikes

Florida State University students will be asked next week to urge FSU President Eric Barron to refuse further increases in tuition.

A tuition increase referendum is on the ballot as part of the Student Government Association's elections on Wednesday.

Tuition was raised 15 percent for in-state undergraduate students at all 11 public universities in the spring.

Last month, Florida TaxWatch proposed increasing the eligibility requirement for Bright Future recipients and requiring in-state post-secondary students to pay out-of-state tuition rates for excess credit hours as a way to help the state save $4 billion in the coming year.

The two education-related proposals are estimated to save $253 million.

On Thursday, Sen. President Mike Haridopolos announced the state is facing a potential $2 billion budget shortfall for the 2012-13 fiscal year.

The ballot language reads:

"The students of Florida State University implore President Eric Barron to, as of Fall 2011, refuse any further increase in tuition, so that he may pursue a policy of statewide leadership which protects public funding for the State University System of Florida. Do you Agree? Yes or No."