Autonomia para quê? Reflexões sobre a experiência paulista de financiamento e gestão das universidades públicas.

Abstract

We analyze the public funding of São Paulo State public universities that is based on the budget binding of allotment of state taxes, that the universities allocated with autonomy. An act of the State Government gave, in 1989, the financial autonomy to these institutions while providing some management criteria. As of 2015, there was a spending crisis, compromising financial management and leaving academic autonomy at risk. This experience in implementing autonomy offers examples for addressing structural problems common to the governance of federal institutions. We examined the financial data that shows revenue commitment to personnel payments and benefits far from the university's mission. We analyzed manifestations by intellectuals and decisions of the higher councils that show that the governance criteria provided by the decree were not met. Our aim is to present an agenda for the defense of autonomy, with specific criteria, considering that tax reform is an opportunity to address the current dilemmas and challenges of the 21st century.