Boyd opposes USF Sarasota-Manatee transfer as budget deal advances

TALLAHASSEE — Florida Senate Majority Leader Jim Boyd has publicly voiced opposition to a proposal that would transfer the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee campus to the New College of Florida, even as lawmakers in Tallahassee appear to be closing in on finalizing the terms for the deal.

Boyd, a Bradenton Republican who is expected to become Senate president later this year, said in a statement Thursday that USF Sarasota-Manatee has served the region for decades by providing affordable higher education and workforce training for local industries.

“Our local businesses rely on this pipeline of talent to grow and thrive,” Boyd said in a statement to WUSF. He added that transferring the campus “would unravel all the good work our community has done to create opportunity” for students and working professionals in fields including nursing, education, technology and insurance.

Boyd becomes one of the highest-ranking Republican lawmakers to publicly oppose the proposal. Congressman Vern Buchanan has also spoken in opposition to the consolidation effort.

The proposal, backed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, would transfer USF Sarasota-Manatee’s 32-acre campus and facilities to New College. In exchange, New College would take responsibility for the approximately $53 million in debt created by the recent construction of student housing facilities at the USF’s satellite campus.

The idea surfaced during last year’s legislative session but failed to advance. It later reappeared in DeSantis’ proposed state budget for the 2026 fiscal year.

While lawmakers did not pass standalone legislation authorizing the transfer during the regular session, House and Senate leaders have continued negotiating the issue as part of ongoing state budget talks.

Recent budget conference documents indicate the two chambers may be nearing an agreement after a key dispute over funding was resolved.

The Florida House had sought to transfer roughly $22.5 million in operating funds from USF Sarasota-Manatee to New College as part of the campus transfer. However, the Senate resisted that provision, arguing the funding should remain with USF to support current students, faculty, and academic programs during any transition.

Sen. Ed Hooper, who is leading Senate budget negotiations, said Friday that Senate concerns centered on including funding in the proposed transfer rather than the property transfer itself.

“There is not heartburn over the transfer, the heartburn is over the money,” Hooper said during a press conference in Tallahassee.

Updated budget language shows that House negotiators have now dropped the request for the $22.5 million transfer and accepted the Senate’s position, clearing a major obstacle that had been stalling negotiations. The House also proposed delaying the proposed date of the land transfer to New College from October 2026 to January 2027.

If approved as part of final budget negotiations, the transfer would mark a significant restructuring of higher education in the Sarasota-Manatee region.