A $167.6 million supplemental budget approved by the state Senate March 24 allots $10.9 million to the University of Massachusetts.
The funding follows a dispute last year between UMass and state lawmakers, in which a Senate bill did not include $10.9 million UMass president Martin T. Meehan expected to cover overdue raises for faculty and staff.
In the fall, the $10.9 million was removed from the supplemental budget because Meehan declined to reduce student fees, Senate President Stanley C. Rosenberg, D-Amherst, said in November.
Since then, the two reached an agreement.
Of the money appropriated last week, $7 million is dedicated to financial aid and scholarships. UMass’ full state appropriation, approved in July, is $531.8 million for the current year.
“Everybody wins in this situation,” Rosenberg said. “The students get some relief, the faculty and staff get pay raises and the matter that was in dispute has been resolved.”
UMass had planned to use the $10.9 million cut from the budget in the fall to pay for retroactive 3.5 percent wage increases as part of three-year contracts with unions representing around 6,500 staff and professors. The university paid the workers in September.
Rosenberg had beseeched UMass to reduce student fees. A June vote by the university board of trustees increased on-campus expenses for UMass Amherst students by nearly $1,500.
Now the focus has shifted to scholarship money.
“The UMass president and I came to an agreement on giving financial aid instead of tuition and fee reductions, but it came too late to be executed in time for this academic year,” Rosenberg said. “So now we’re rolling forward and helping students in the next academic year.”
The Senate budget follows House approval last week.
“Legislative support for this funding reflects the enduring and visionary support for UMass that Speaker Robert DeLeo and Senate President Stan Rosenberg have demonstrated throughout their careers,” UMass Amherst Chancellor Kumble Subbaswamy said in a statement. “We deeply appreciate the leadership of all involved, including our regional legislators and especially the efforts led by our alumnus, Senate President Rosenberg. (The) announcement will bolster the ability of our flagship campus to provide the sons and daughters of the Commonwealth with a life-changing, affordable education as we continue to ascend the ranks of the nation’s best public universities.”
Rosenberg said the House and Senate expected to send the budget to Gov. Charlie Baker by Friday.
“The passage of this $10.9 million in additional funding represents a great victory for the students, faculty and staff of the University of Massachusetts, and I commend Senate President Rosenberg for his leadership and his commitment to this issue,” Meehan said in a statement. “By enabling us to invest an additional $7 million in the scholarship fund that we make available to our students, we can make sure that financial relief reaches those students who need it most. We think this approach is consistent with the affordability concerns that President Rosenberg has voiced.”
Stephanie McFeeters can be reached at smcfeeters@gazettenet.com.