One item in new business for the Tennessee Higher Education Commission’s fall quarterly meeting Nov. 20 in Nashville was an appropriations outlay for fiscal year 2004-2005.

The commission considered three distribution scenarios, each reflecting a 5 percent reduction. Concern was expressed that an across-the-board cut would damage entities of higher education that do not receive revenue from fees such as research and public service stations and specialized units consisting of UT and Tennessee Board of Regents administration.

Thus a distribution scenario was passed by the commission that would impose a 5 percent reduction based on total revenue comprising recurring state appropriations, maintenance fees and out-of-state tuition revenue according to each entity’s share of the $54.5 million total reduction amount.

UTM’s reduction will be in the amount of $1,497,100, a -5.5 percent change from recurring appropriations, and likely to mean a 7 percent tuition increase. Gov. Phil Bredesen may entertain or deny the recommendations that will be made by the commission next Monday.