“We’ve been working at being efficient for a long time,” Truman budget director Dave Rector said. “We’re running out of things we can cut.”

With about 5,000 full-time students paying the fee, about $250,000 will come back to the school for the general operating budget, or about 8 percent of the total withhold amount.

That supplements other cost savings such as deferred hiring and maintenance, according to Rector. It also helps the school avoid cutting things such as university subscriptions to databases and trimming back library hours of operation, he said.

The school sent students on Monday a notice about the fee, including information on a limited number of grants students facing financial hardships can request to help cover the fee.

Michael Menkhus, junior economics major from Oakville, said the fee created “a morale issue” for students who feel as if they’re carrying the burden of the financial struggles. His frustration is largely aimed at the governor’s decision to focus budget withholds on universities.

“It’s essentially paying for tax cuts by charging college students more,” Menkhus said.

The fee was unanimously approved by Truman’s board.

Looking toward Greitens’ funding recommendations for the coming fiscal year, which include additional cuts to public higher education, all state universities are considering waivers to increase tuition larger than a mandated cap put in place in 2007.

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