ALBANY - The State University of New York on Thursday proposed no tuition increase for the 2006-07 fiscal year in a budget plan that would increase state spending about 12 percent.

The proposal by Acting Chancellor John Ryan will go to the SUNY Board of Trustees next week for approval, then to Gov. George Pataki who will consider the recommendation in his executive budget proposal due in January. The Legislature will then likely propose additional funding, based on past years, and negotiate SUNY funding as part of a state budget due April 1.

“Our plan is to take our very good public higher education system and make it exceptional,” Ryan said.

“The SUNY budget request is extremely positive for the students and families in New York state,” said Miriam Kramer of the student-backed New York Public Interest Research Group. “The ball is now in the governor's court.”

She said she was mostly pleased that SUNY is pushing Pataki - who appoints the SUNY Board of Trustees - for more state aid. She called the request for more community college aid “extremely appropriate.”

Earlier this month, Pataki said he plans to close a projected $2.5 billion in the 2006-07 budget while proposing tax cuts and that could effect SUNY's funding and tuition. The Legislature, however, is also up for re-election next year and has fought against tuition increases in past years.