In the face of Maryland’s budget woes, a state panel has released a draft study recommending $700-million more in state money for higher education over 10 years.

The report, scheduled to be made final later this year, suggests Maryland should compare its higher-education spending to states that it competes with regionally for employers instead of comparing state appropriations to peers across the country, according to the University of Maryland at College Park’s Diamondback, a student newspaper.

But approving more money for colleges may be a tough sell when the General Assembly convenes, in January. Maryland had to close a budget shortfall of more than $800-million at the end of the previous fiscal year. Gov. Martin O’Malley, a Democrat, has already cut $350-million from the current fiscal year’s budget, and the state could face a billion-dollar shortfall in the 2010 fiscal year.

The University System of Maryland, however, has earned some good will in the Statehouse. Since 2004 the system has voluntarily cut $94-million in spending and has frozen tuition for three years in a row.

In response, the governor asked other state agencies to cut as much as 5 percent of their budgets this year, while the university was told to shave just 1.5 percent off. —Eric Kelderman