Once again Gov. Tom Corbett is proposing a state budget plan that drastically slashes funding to higher education and programs that aid children, the disabled and elderly.
Last year the governor cut state funding to higher education by nearly 20 percent in which colleges responded by raising tuitions and cutting programs.
This week Corbett proposed a $27.1 billion budget plan that calls for a 30 percent cut in state aid to Pennsylvania State University, University of Pittsburgh and Temple University and a 20 percent cut to the 14 state-owned universities including Cheyney University and West Chester.
Funding for Lincoln University would see no reduction and remain at this year’s $11.1 million level. The Corbett administration did not explain why Lincoln was spared.
Slashing state funds to higher education is misguided and shortsighted. Another drastic state funding decrease will result in colleges raising tuition to make up for the difference in lost aid. The cuts to higher education mean working families will end up paying higher tuition costs.
Ironically the same day the governor proposed drastic cuts to colleges he also appointed a Higher Education advisory panel to report on affordability and access issues.
The governor does not need to wait for the 30-member advisory panel to issue him a report to know that slashing state funding to higher education for the second straight year will result in higher tuition costs which will make college less affordable and less accessible to many Pennsylvania students.
In addition to proposed cuts of up to 30 percent, the governor is also proposing to eliminate a $300 million program that provides temporary cash assistance to more than 60,000 residents who don’t qualify for disability payments.
The governor is also proposing a $170 million in cuts to social-service funding. Philadelphia is expected to lose $42 million in the city’s welfare system, most of it in cuts for mental-health and homeless services, said Donald F. Schwarz, deputy mayor for health and opportunity.
Corbett’s budget proposal is made even grimmer as a result of his refusal to propose any state tax increases.
The governor is seeking to balance the state budget by slashing aid to colleges and cutting funding to those most vulnerable.
(Reprinted from the Philadelphia Tribune.)
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