b
-l
z
):1. To make stable or steadfast.
2. To maintain the stability of (an airplane or ship, for example) by means of a stabilizer.
3. To keep from fluctuating; fix the level of: stabilize prices.
The Federal stimulus bill includes a "STATE FISCAL STABILIZATION FUND" that includes money for higher education. The meaning of stabilize is clear: to keep from fluctuating. Common sense indicates the intent of the Federal money is to keep higher education budgets (like that of MnSCU) from fluctuating wildly in this recession.
Reading the actual law confirms that (the Higher Ed stuff is on pages 165-168) . The bill states that:
Are there any restrictions or strings? Yes, in three ways.
The first is an explicit list of no-nos: no maintenance of equipment, no endowments, no stadiums and no religion (Sec. 14004 (b) and (c)).
The second is that the Federal government provides money only if the State provides money at the FY2006 level or higher (Sec. 14005 (d)(1)(B)).
Third is that the first priority for use of the money for higher ed must be:
There is a caveat that comes later and only affects how much stimulus money there is, not how it can be used. If there isn't enough money to restore both Higher Ed and K-12 to FY2008/2009 the Governor is to make the two share the shortfall proportionately.
The Federal stimulus bill includes a "STATE FISCAL STABILIZATION FUND" that includes money for higher education. The meaning of stabilize is clear: to keep from fluctuating. Common sense indicates the intent of the Federal money is to keep higher education budgets (like that of MnSCU) from fluctuating wildly in this recession.
Reading the actual law confirms that (the Higher Ed stuff is on pages 165-168) . The bill states that:
A public institution of higher education that receives funds under this title shall use the funds for education and general expenditures, and in such a way as to mitigate the need to raise tuition and fees for in-State students, or for modernization, renovation, or repair of institution of higher education facilities... (Sec. 14004 (a))"education and general expenditures" seems pretty broad to me. The bill also clearly calls for minimizing tuition increases.
Are there any restrictions or strings? Yes, in three ways.
The first is an explicit list of no-nos: no maintenance of equipment, no endowments, no stadiums and no religion (Sec. 14004 (b) and (c)).
The second is that the Federal government provides money only if the State provides money at the FY2006 level or higher (Sec. 14005 (d)(1)(B)).
Third is that the first priority for use of the money for higher ed must be:
to provide...the amount of funds to public institutions of higher education in the State that is needed to restore State support for such institutions (excluding tuition and fees paid by students) to the greater of the fiscal year 2008 or fiscal year 2009 level. (Sec. 14002 (a)(2)(A)(ii))In other words, use the money so that the budgets of state colleges and universities do not have to be cut below the FY2008 or FY2009 level.
There is a caveat that comes later and only affects how much stimulus money there is, not how it can be used. If there isn't enough money to restore both Higher Ed and K-12 to FY2008/2009 the Governor is to make the two share the shortfall proportionately.
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