State legislators have proposed using tuition money to ease state budget woes, ASUA President Ray Quintero said last night.

This week, the Joint Legislative Budget Committee proposed using half of the revenue generated by tuition at Arizona universities for state programs, instead of returning the tuition funds to the universities as is customary. The proposal comes at a time when the state Legislature is facing what could be a $1 billion deficit in 2003, and cutting funds to Arizona universities as a result.

University of Arizona President Peter Likins has advocated a tuition raise, partly as a response to cuts in state funding to the UA. Last Spring's increase was a 5 percent increase of $142 for in-state students.

The Arizona Board of Regents will set tuition rates for next fall during an April 25 to 26 meeting at Northern Arizona University.

Gov. Jane Dee Hull stated in an address to the state last week that she is firmly against tuition increases. Hull and the state Legislature could effectively negate universities' attempts to raise funds needed for operation by channeling those funds into state coffers instead, said Matt Ortega, Arizona board of regents spokesman.

Arizona universities have already taken a big cut in state funding--approximately $15.8 million has been cut from this year's UA budget.

The Arizona Students' Association, a state-wide student lobbying group, is planning a letter-writing campaign targeting state legislators to keep the proposal from becoming a law.