The House has come down from its position on transferring funding from the University of South Florida to New College, teeing up a broader land transfer between the two institutions.
The House had been seeking the transfer of $22.47 million in funds from USF Sarasota-Manatee to New College as part of the campus transfer pushed by Gov. Ron DeSantis.
In addition to eliminating a funds transfer in its budget offer, the House has also met the Senate on language for the overall land transfer, extending the deadline for New College to assume full liability of the USF Sarasota-Manatee campus from its original position of Oct. 30 of this year to Jan. 31 of next year.
If the Senate accepts the House’s latest offer — which is likely, considering its position was met — the land transfer will go through.
Speaking during a press conference Friday, Sen. Ed Hooper, who is leading budget negotiations for the upper chamber, said the “heartburn” Senate leaders had was over money, not land. USF leaders had indicated they were OK with ceding the Sarasota-Manatee campus to New College, but not funding.
DeSantis in December pitched transferring USF’s Sarasota-Manatee campus to New College. But he didn’t include a funding transfer.
At the time, DeSantis said the deal would require New College to assume full legal and financial liability for outstanding debt at the existing USF Sarasota-Manatee campus by Oct. 30, 2026, with New College making $166,617 monthly payments to USF to cover debt service until it was paid off. The property transfer, meanwhile, would happen by July 1, though existing students at the campus could finish their degrees for up to four more years, DeSantis said.
Leaders in the House and Senate had earlier this year entered into a behind-the-scenes agreement to support the campus transfer. But after the House proposed shifting $22.47 million from USF to New College as part of the deal, the Senate pushed back, with sources telling Florida Politics in February the funding transfer could be a deal-breaker.
“We have been clear that the loss of any funds threatens our priority to protect our people, as they are necessary to pay for a teach-out so current USF Sarasota-Manatee students can finish their degrees on their home campus and for USF Sarasota-Manatee employees’ salaries on another USF campus,” former USF Board of Trustees Chair Will Weatherford said at the time.
Sources told Florida Politics at the time they were confident lawmakers would ultimately align with the Senate’s position, which has now happened.
