TALLAHASSEE -- Two years ago, Florida created a pursuit policy for all state universities: Catch up with the national average for tuition -- but at speeds no faster than 15 percent a year.

With maximum increases ever since, the chase is on. This year looks no different, with both the House and Senate assuming 15 percent tuition increases.

But Florida universities remain on average the third-cheapest in the country. And with state university budgets going down nearly 25 percent over the same time, some wonder how long the state can go after a moving target.

University of Florida president Bernie Machen has made the boldest move, calling for a 30 percent tuition increase. He and Florida State University president Eric Barron sent a joint letter to Gov. Rick Scott asking for “flexible university-specific tuition and fee models” to generate more revenue.

“Other universities around the country bit the bullet, rose their tuition to balance their budgets and then they’re raising tuition at 4 percent or 6 percent. Whereas we’re playing this catch up,” Barron said in an interview. “Maybe we should just be looking at the national average and get it over with, rather then keep raising it on people.”

Legislative leaders have more modest plans.

The House would raise base tuition by 5 percent next school year and let universities request from the Board of Governors an optional 10 percent increase. The Senate would leave all the heavy lifting to the universities, letting them make their case to the Board of Governors for a 15 percent increase. Those increases have been granted every year.

House Speaker Dean Cannon said his support for allowing universities to increase tuition beyond the current 15 percent cap would depend on how it’s implemented, especially as the state is “trying to balance access with quality.”

“You have to be gradual because you don’t want to undershoot or overshoot,” he said. “Again, everything is on the table.”

Senate President Mike Haridopolos ruled out raising the cap. “I would not support that,” he told officials at a recent Board of Governors meeting.

Gov. Rick Scott said he supports giving universities more flexibility in setting their tuition. When he heard university officials last week talk about growing numbers of applicants for limited spots, he said, “In business, you would raise prices.”

He was more equivocal when reporters asked about Machen’s recent proposal for a 30 percent tuition hike.

Tuition covers only a small portion of university revenue, and over the past three years the state system has seen its funding cut by nearly 25 percent.

Students have supported tuition increases because they know how much the universities have seen their budgets cut, said Braulio Colon, director of the Florida College Access Network in Tampa, an organization that promotes “college readiness” among lower-income students.

But he questioned why the national tuition average is the main factor under consideration.

“If we’re going to look at national averages, let’s look at national averages of funding per student,” said Colon. “We should also be looking at the percentage of financial aid that’s merit-based versus need-based.”

College spokespersons in Manatee-Sarasota say that while their boards have raised tuition in recent years, an education in Florida remains an exceptional value, ranking among the most affordable in the United States.

At New College of Florida, trustees have raised tuition by 15 percent each of the past two academic years. More than half of the increase is mandated by the Legislature, and the remainder is allowed by lawmakers. The differential may be approved by a vote of university trustees.

As the Legislature cuts state funding for higher education, more of the burden is being switched onto students, said Jake Hartvigsen, spokesman for New College.

All 11 of Florida’s four-year universities have opted for the full 15 percent tuition hike over past two years, Hartvigsen said.

While the University of South Florida did raise tuition 15 percent for its Tampa campus, the regional campuses saw a smaller increase, said Chris Manring, spokeswoman for USF Sarasota-Manatee.

At State College of Florida Manatee-Sarasota, tuition has also been raised, but at about half the rate as at universities, said SCF spokeswoman Kathy Walker.

“Our tuition is far below the university’s tuition, but both continue to be very good values,” Walker said.

That’s despite state revenues to local colleges declining for at least a decade.

“Forty-three percent of revenue for our budget came from state,” Walker said of SCF’s current budget.

Has rising tuition had any affect on enrollment?

Hard to say, officials say, although a prolonged recession might be taking a toll.

New College has seen a slight dip in enrollment, and SCF has seen plateauing of enrollment after a decade of rapid growth.

But at USF Sarasota-Manatee, there has been no slackening of enrollment, Manring said.

“We anticipate that our enrollment will increase as we launch new programs,” Manring said.

-- James A. Jones Jr. of the Bradenton Herald contributed to this report.