This report covers the submitted LAR document and attempts to summarize the priorities and changes in the aforementioned Legislative Appropriations Request for the Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB).
Background
The Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) fund, as part of the CARES Act of 2020, provided THECB with a one-time $175 million injection to support financial aid programs, online learning transition, and data infrastructure and resources. This fund does not carry over into FY 2022-23.
The Governor’s mandated 5% reduction in budget will primarily affect 5 major programs: TEXAS Grants, Tuition Equalization Grants (TEG), Texas Educational Opportunity Grant (TEO), emergency educational grants for new and continuing students, and re-enrollment encouragement grants.
Funding Breakdown (Comparing FY 20-21 rates with requested FY 22-23 rates)
- General Revenue: Decrease from $1.57 billion to $1.48 billion
- GR Dedicated: Increase from $30 million to $31.3 million
- Federal Funds: Decrease from $236.7 million to $68.7 million
- Other Funds: Decrease from $73 million to $63 million
- ALL FUNDS: Decrease from $1,907,530,887 to $1,639,340,016
Exceptional Items Requests (EIR)
- Restore base funding to FY 20-21 levels to cover 5% cut to financial aid and grad school programs – $74.5 million
- Increase Student Financial Aid and State Grant Funding –$110 million
- Increase funding for GradTX – $4 million
- Funding for Data Security and Accessibility – $4 million
- Funding for Capitol Complex Move – $1.2 million
- TOTAL EIR Request: $193.7 million
