State Budget Proposal for 2012–2013

February 22, 2012

Members of the Rutgers Community:

New Jersey governor Chris Christie yesterday proposed a $32.1 billion state budget for Fiscal Year 2012–13 that includes a welcome increase in higher education funding, particularly in financial aid programs for New Jersey students. 

Funding for the Tuition Aid Grants program will increase by more than 10 percent. There will also be a 1.3 percent increase in the Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) program, the first EOF increase in four years. The Governor also proposed $1 million for a new Urban Scholarship program for students who finish in the top 5 percent of their high school class and attend a New Jersey college or university. The increases in student aid contained in Governor Christie’s budget proposal are among the highest increases in the budget and are an indication of the governor’s commitment to keeping college affordable for New Jersey’s students. 

Governor Christie’s budget holds operating support to Rutgers level with last year’s budget and increases funding for employee benefits here and at the other public colleges and universities in New Jersey. 

The governor’s proposal is the first step in the budget process, which now shifts to the legislature. Rutgers will monitor the process and will advocate on behalf of higher education as the state budget is deliberated and finalized between now and the end of June.

Richard L. McCormick
President
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey