Penn State Seeks Modest Additional Appropriation

3-20-98
Hershey, Pa. -- Calling Gov. Tom Ridge's 1998-99 proposed budget his "most generous yet for public higher education," Penn State President Graham B. Spanier told the Board of Trustees today (March 20) that the University will work to support Ridge's proposed 3.25 percent increase for Penn State and to seek a modest additional appropriation.

The 3.25 percent proposed increase translates to $9.4 million over the current year's appropriation. Ridge's $17.8 billion budget proposal for 1998-99, unveiled on Feb. 3, earmarks $299.1 million for Penn State.

Spanier, who in recent weeks has discussed Penn State's budget request at state House and Senate appropriations committee hearings, said Penn State is grateful for Ridge's recognition of its accomplishments and needs. "The 3.25 percent increase he has proposed is very close to the $10 million we requested (for basic operating costs)," he said. "It will allow us to stay even."

But Spanier said the University needs additional support for parts of its budget proposal that are intended to improve Pennsylvania's competitiveness and are focused on several high-priority areas. These include additional faculty positions; information technology and libraries; the life sciences; critical academic program priorities; deferred maintenance; and agricultural research and cooperative extension.

"Some legislators have expressed interest in seeing additional funding dedicated in particular to information technology, workforce development, cooperative extension, and agricultural research -- all, of course, areas of strength at Penn State," Spanier told the board. "These also are areas where we have been able to partner with industry to leverage our own contributions. We are working to expand those partnerships further and I am hopeful that we will win more support."

Penn State is asking the legislature and the governor to support the effort of state Rep. Ray Bunt (R-147th District, Montgomery County), chair of the House Agriculture Committee, to provide an additional 5 percent funding for agricultural research and cooperative extension programs.

"Agriculture is a critically important industry to Pennsylvania," Spanier said, "and one that needs to be protected and strengthened by the research and extension activities that have contributed centrally to its remarkable success."

At the House and Senate budget hearings, Spanier promised that Penn State will be a "good steward" of the state funding it receives and noted that an increased state investment in Penn State "will return far more value than the dollars involved." Spanier pledged that "every part of the Penn State community will work to ensure a substantial return" on the state's investment.

The legislature is expected to make its budget recommendation to the governor in April and the governor's response is expectedly to follow promptly.

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Contacts:
Alan Janesch (814) 865-7517 (office) (814) 867-3621 (home) axj12@psu.edu
Christy Rambeau (814) 865-7517 (office) (814)237-9046 (home) cmr7@psu.edu