Budget balancing, 101

Last week, the state Board of Regents voted down a 10 percent tuition hike that would have affected each of the 34 schools under the University System of Georgia. The hope had been that the hike would help close the gap on a big budget shortfall. But this time, the board spared university students the burden. Here’s a look at the university system’s spending history: ?

Current budget cut demanded of the state University System: $64.8 million?

Number of past years when cuts greater than $64.8 million were needed: 1?

Dollar amount that a statewide, 10 percent tuition hike would have netted: $24 million?

Number of times tuition has been increased since 1990: 13?

Highest tuition hikes in Georgia’s history: 15 percent (in 1984 and 1985)?

Increase in the system’s 34 schools’ enrollment over the past year: 13,922?

Annual tuition at Georgia State University in 2004 and 1994, respectively: $2,077 and $1,845?

Number of people cut from Georgia State payroll via attrition and layoffs in the past three years: 200?

Total annual yearly allowance for all 34 state college presidents: $441,000?

Average allowance per month per president: $1,080?

A president’s average annual salary: $141,363?

Percent increase in presidents’ salaries at the state’s four research universities, since 2000: 35 percent