Proposed Budget Will Spend Twice as Much on Prisons as on Higher Education
March 19, 2012
Budget Analysis
Read PBPC's Analysis of the Governor's 2012-13 Budget
Budget Funding Tables
Compare Governor's budget to 2011-12 and 2010-11
Budget Presentation
View Michael Wood and Sharon Ward's presentation on the state budget
Budget Conference Call
Listen to a podcast of PBPC's budget conference call
Budget Op-ed
Read Sharon Ward's Op-ed on the Governor's Budget
Governor Tom Corbett has proposed deep cuts to higher education institutions in Pennsylvania for the second year in a row.
The State System of Higher Education appropriation, supporting 14 state universities, is reduced by 20% to $330 million in the proposed 2012-13 budget. The two-year reduction would amount to a cut of 34%.
The appropriation for Penn State University will be cut by 28% this year, totaling a two-year reduction of 51%.
The University of Pittsburgh and Temple University are each slated to receive a 30% cut this year, with the two-year cut totaling 44% and 43%, respectively. Lincoln University is level-funded.
Funding for community colleges has also been cut in recent years.
If enacted, the Governor's 2012-13 budget will result in a funding cut for higher education of one-third since the start of the recession.
This budget will also mean that come 2013 Pennsylvania will be spending twice as much on prisons as on colleges and universities.
