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Pitt, Penn State and Temple funding would be restored to this year's level in agreement being negotiated
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HARRISBURG -- The University of Pittsburgh and other state-supported universities would receive the same funding next year under a proposal that legislative aides said reflects the budget agreement being hammered out.
The budget proposed by Gov. Tom Corbett in February would cut funding by 30 percent for three of the four state-supported universities, including Penn State University and Temple University. A House panel this morning approved legislation giving those universities the appropriation they received this year.
"They are being flat funded," said Steve Miskin, a spokesman for House Republicans. "Everybody is in agreement on that."
Legislative leaders have emphasized the $27.66 billion budget framework announced with Gov. Tom Corbett on Wednesday remains tentative until they brief and receive approval from their members. Some funding items remain under negotiation, they said.
Erik Arneson, a spokesman for Senate Republicans, said the Senate supports funding the state-supported universities at the current level, and he described such appropriations as "a likely outcome" of the budget process.
"However, with some line items still being reconciled under the framework agreed to yesterday, it's a bit early to say that definitively," he said.
The governor's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The system of 14 state-owned universities would sustain a 20 percent funding cut under the budget proposed by Mr. Corbett. In May, the Senate voted to restore funding to the state-supported and state-owned universities.
Legislators now are moving to restore funding for the state-owned universities, Mr. Miskin said.
Both the governor and the Senate had proposed level funding for Lincoln University, the fourth state-supported institution.
House and Senate staff began preparing spreadsheets detailing specific spending areas Wednesday night, said Rep. Bill Adolph, R-Delaware and chairman of the House Appropriations Committee.
House Republican members received their first briefing on the agreement this afternoon.
First Published June 21, 2012 1:46 pm
