In the Union Leader, Clynton Namuo looks at the University of New Hampshire’s finances, with the school banking a small surplus for the year.

UNH had a small budget surplus for 2009 after operating revenue rose 3.6 percent compared to a 3.5 percent jump in expenses, according to a letter issued by Dick Cannon, vice president for finance and administration, and David Proulx, assistance vice president for planning and budgeting.

The surplus is a turnaround from a previous budget shortfall that led UNH to aggressively cut costs by buying out some professors, leaving other positions vacant and laying off a handful of staff, among other measures.

UNH is also leaning harder on student tuition, according to the letter. To balance its current budget, UNH raised in-state tuition 7 percent for the ongoing academic year and out-of-state tuition 5 percent.