The first budget from Manitoba Finance Minister Jennifer Howard was greeted with a mixed reaction from the post-secondary community.

In details doled out on March 6, the provincial plan called for another 2.5 per cent increase in operating grants to the province’s universities, following on what was allotted last year, and a 2 per cent investment in colleges.

Sharon Alward, president of the University of Manitoba Faculty Association, said the U of M has told schools and faculties at the university that they will have to chop 5 per cent in spending from their unit budgets for the 2014–2015 year and plan for another 5 per cent cut the year after, despite the budget grant increase.

“We are concerned about decisions the university is making on where to use scarce dollars,” she said.

While Howard had warned her budget would have “low spending,” some administrators were hoping to see more movement from the government.

University of Winnipeg president Lloyd Axworthy said the budget didn’t address gaps in funding between universities across the province.

“We are disappointed that the real and ongoing inequity that exists within the Manitoba post-secondary system has not been addressed,” Axworthy said in a statement. “His­torically, the University of Winnipeg receives much less per student from the province. Our provincial grant in 2011 was the equivalent of $7,417 per student, whereas Brandon University and the University of Manitoba each received almost double that at $12,776 and $14,465 respectively per student.

“Enrolment at the University of Winnipeg has increased by 55 per cent over the past 12 years. Ironically, the more students we accept, the more our budget gap grows compared to other Manitoba universities since there is no connection between enrollment and government funding.”

Students were also disappointed the budget failed to do more to improve access and decrease debt.

“Sustained funding will allow students to plan their finances, but increasing fees and little action on student debt make it harder to actually make ends meet,” said Bilan Arte, chairperson of the Canadian Federation of Students — Manitoba. “With youth unemployment double the provincial average, this budget does little to address the rising costs that students and their families face.”

In the 2014 budget, the province also announced the council on post-secondary education would now fall under the auspices of the department of education and advanced learning — a move reportedly welcomed by university officials.