But the report said those are only “short-term” solutions.
“Over time, they will create additional problems such as student dissatisfaction, declining academic success of students, staff burnout and saturation of community resources,” the report said.
This is the second year that the Board of Governors, which oversees the 12 universities, has asked for mental health funding. It has identified a $14 million need but has asked for the money over the next two years in $7 million allotments.
Senate Higher Education Appropriations Chairman Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton, said the Senate’s initial higher-education budget, which will be unveiled Tuesday, will include more funding for the state universities, but it will be up to each institution on how to spend that money.
“They have within their discretion the opportunity to fund programs like these,” Galvano said. “There is not a line item in the state budget that says this is specifically for university mental health funding.”
Galvano said universities don’t want the Legislature “to start micromanaging all of their programs” through the state budget.
