State System Chancellor Frank Brogan and other leaders with the State System of Higher Education urged members of the House and Senate appropriations committees to support increased funding for state-owned colleges and universities in the upcoming budget.
The appropriations request from the SSHE is just over $505 million, a total increase of $61 million from the amount the State System is receiving this year. The money would help partially offset nearly $80 million in increased costs. While the state system has received increased support from the state budget over the last two years, the funding total remains about $60 million less than where it was ten years ago, before the recession started.
In his proposed budget, Governor Tom Wolf included a 2% increase in funding for the State System, something that Chancellor Frank Brogan was thankful for, but more is needed to keep the SSHE going.
Brogan said that they have started a review of state system to see what changes are needed to make the system more sustainable. He said that the time is now to do this, otherwise the math may take over and force them to make some tough decisions.
Board of Governors Chairwoman Cynthia D. Shapira said that students remain the top priority, but everyone will benefit from the investments made in the state’s public universities.
