In The News: Education

A 2006 Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation report found that the state higher education system stands to gain millions of dollars in new revenues under the bill. If the in-state tuition policy for public colleges and universities had been in place in 2009, up to 660 undocumented students would have enrolled, bringing in between $2.1 and $2.7 million.

"There is clearly a double standard, in which public sector benefits are out of line with what's available in the private sector," said Michael Widmer, president of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, a nonpartisan public policy organization. "It's a divide in cities and towns because the public, most of whom work in the private sector — the voters — are being asked to support and pay for benefits they've long since lost or never had."

In a much more recent analysis, the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation estimated that the payback from this change could be as much as $7.4 million over four years. So it makes good economic sense. We've already invested in the K-12 education of these students. Why throw that away? It seems such a waste.

Michael Widmer, president of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, rejects the idea that offering the lower in-state tuition rate to these young people would cost Massachusetts money. He projects a boost to state revenues if students who are now priced out of college earn a chance to enroll at the resident rate, which is generally about half that of the nonresident rate. Illegal immigrants, notes Widmer, are not eligible for state financial aid.

By offering these students an incentive to stay in the state, the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation estimates that the change in tuition rules would boost state revenues by $2 million in the first year the law is enacted and escalate to as much as $7.4 million by the fourth year.

Taxpayer Foundation president Michael Widmer said the organization has no position on legislation authorizing in-state tuition rates for certain illegal immigrants. The analysis noted that over the last 12 years, the state has spent between $105 million and $120 million educating undocumented students in secondary and elementary schools.

Yesterday, the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation estimated that passing the legislation would boost the state’s revenues by about $2 million in the first year, if 315 to 365 students enrolled, and up to $7.4 million by the fourth year, when the enrollment could more than double.

Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation President Michael Widmer said that about $108 million from an allotment of $200 million in one-time education funds approved by Congress last year have not been requested by cities and towns and could be available for fiscal 2012. But Widmer said 100 communities have already used up their share of those funds – about $92 million – and the Chapter 70 funding cut could hurt more in those cities and towns.

“They get a higher turnout from games and a higher pay-out,” said Michael Widmer, president of the business-backed Massachusetts Taxpayers Association. “Their applications could also increase. It’s not just Division 1 football, but it’s part of strategy to enhance the reputation of the university.”

The head of the Massachusetts Taxpayer Foundation, Michael Widmer, says this is one perk our state can no longer afford. "It's one thing to have 100 percent reimbursement for an employee. Even that alone is very generous. But then the spouse as well, that is off the chart."