Posted on 02/27/2008 11:45:50 AM PST by Born Conservative
Includes 1.5% hike for Penn State, Pitt, Temple and Lincoln
HARRISBURG -- "Completely inadequate."
That's how Penn State University President Graham Spanier characterized Gov. Ed Rendell's proposed 1.5 percent funding increase for state-related universities.
"If the appropriation doesn't even come close to the increases in the rest of the budget, and doesn't even come close to the rate of inflation, it puts a burden on the tuition side of the equation," he said.
Dr. Spanier and the heads of the other state-related universities -- the University of Pittsburgh, Temple University and Lincoln University -- testified before the House Appropriations Committee yesterday.
There is only so much the general fund budget can bear, said Chuck Ardo, Mr. Rendell's spokesman.
"The reality is we have to live within the constraints of the revenue we get, and that requires us to make difficult decisions," he said. "Health care continues to eat up more of the budget, and in corrections we are incarcerating more people. These are places where we have no options about whether to spend money."
Higher education is an area where there is more discretion, Mr. Ardo said.
Mr. Rendell proposed increasing funding to the state-related universities by 1.5 percent as part of his $27.3 billion budget proposal.
University leaders say it would take at least a 4.1 percent increase to keep up with general inflation, and even more to match increases in higher education costs, which rise at a greater rate than the general cost of living.
(Excerpt) Read more at post-gazette.com ...
Maybe if the government gravy train stopped chugging...this wouldn't happen.
This is in no way a defense of Fast Eddie.
A Republican governor would always look for ways to keep from rocking the boat when it came to funding education & state employee salary contracts. I warned my Dem friends about electing a Democrat, but did they listen? Nooooooo! You can’t even make a self-interest argument with the other side.
I hate to say it, but I agree with Rendell’s administration stance that they need to hold the line on spending. Mine, as well, is in no way a defense of Fast Eddie, but he’s right.
Getting rid of tenure and holding college profs accountable for the quality of their work would be a good start....
How about taking what the taxpayers give you and try managing your budgets. The State should prohibit these Ivory Tower a-holes from raising tuition. Gee, maybe they would have to get rid of some touchy feely electives and the Mid East Studies Department.
MEANING, THEY'LL GET THEIR MONEY ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.........
Here is a novel approach, cut spending.
State auditors need to take control of these schools and teach them a course in everyday economics.
Hey Spanier, take a look at the endowment. Stop begging. Jettison half of your majors (your own website lists over 160 - come on, that’s fluff) and stop handing out money to illiterate, uneducatable goons in the name of diversity or athletics.
Interesting that PA can afford to give U. of Penn $50 million when it costs students $45K per year to attend, but they can’t manage more than 1.5% for Penn State and the other state universities. I was just watching the appropriations committe hearings on PCN.
Maybe you hadn’t heard about Rendell’s *stimulus* plan to give away $ to low income folks.
I was specifically addressing this issue; I’m definitely aware of his other income distribution schemes....
In the past 2 years, Pitt added “domestic partner” benefits to its perks in defiance of the state.
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