In his proposed state budget, Montana Governor Steve Bullock has recommended another two-year tuition freeze for the Montana University System. 

Deputy Commissioner of Higher Education Kevin McRae said the governor is attempting to address the increasing costs of higher education through yet another two-year tuition freeze, and will balance the costs of a freeze with an increase in pay for university and other state personnel.

"It appears that he would advocate to put inflationary increases into the budget that would, in combination with an increase in the state employee pay plan, that would be a realistic way to balance out the cost of a tuition freeze to keep costs affordable for students and their families," McRae said.

McRae said the Montana Board of Regents has cooperated in freezing tuition for nearly a decade.

"At the four-year campuses, tuition has been frozen for four of the last eight years, and at the two-year campus, tuition has been frozen for the last eight years," McRae said. "The careful working relationship between the Montana University System, the Montana legislature and the governor to keep tuition frozen, has provided state funding to invest in quality education."

McRae said the full 90 days of the upcoming session will be required to work out the budget between the governor and the legislature.

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