Pa. Senate plans to push up state higher ed funding

Cathedral of Learning

(B28) The iconic building of the University of Pittsburgh, The Cathedral of Learning, is shown in Pittsburgh,Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2007. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)

The Pennsylvania Senate is proposing an amendment to state budget bills that would grant Penn State, Pitt and Temple and all of the state-owned universities an increase in state aid for 2016-17.

The $31.6 billion state budget that passed the House of Representatives on Tuesday had kept state appropriations to the public colleges and universities at current year levels.

Under the Senate's plan, which is expected to get a first vote in that chamber later Wednesday, appropriations to all of the schools would be bumped up between 2 and 2.5 percent, according to sources familiar with the plan.

A 2.5 percent bump would require a total outlay of about $25 million.

It's unclear at this point if that would be added to the House-passed spending, or accomplished through cuts in other areas.

There may also be a concurrent increase in the state allocation for the state's student tuition assistance grant program, the sources said. Those grants follow qualifying Pennsylvania students to the college or university they are attending.

Supporters are pushing for the increases on the argument that increasing state aid to higher education is consistent with the increases the state House has already voted for k-12 schools.

More details will follow, but this word essentially confirms the Senate is intent on making some changes to the House-passed budget.

Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati, R-Jefferson County, said earlier Wednesday that he still hopes to "lock down" an agreed-to general fund budget with House leadership in the next couple of days.

"We're very close. We're close with the governor. We're close with the House," Scarnati said.

If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.