By SUSAN JONES
Gov. Josh Shapiro’s budget address on Feb. 4 barely mentioned higher education, but his proposed budget keeps funding for the state-related universities — Pitt, Penn State, Temple and Lincoln — at the same level as last year, with the addition of $60 million for Pitt, Penn State and Temple to be distributed based on the recommendations of the Performance-Based Funding Council.
The council was established in the 2024-25 budget and is expected develop a funding formula by April 30. The formula, which will only apply to the state’s three largest public universities, will be designed to incentivize outcomes like graduation rates and students who stay in Pennsylvania after graduation.
Shapiro made passing reference to the State Board of Higher Education (see related story), and said it is working to “fix the problem that I identified in my first budget address of universities competing against each other for limited dollars and ultimately driving up costs for students.”
This budget proposal also would invest $30 million in attracting and furthering life sciences businesses, which Pitt is deeply involved with through the BioForge development in greater Hazelwood.
In late September, Pitt requested a 6% increase in funding in the 2025-26 state budget.
“The University’s appropriations request reflects our commitment to partnering with Pennsylvania to provide a world-class, affordable education that delivers for students and puts the commonwealth on a path to a more competitive workforce and a stronger economy,” David Brown, vice chancellor for government relations, said at that time.
The 2024-25 state budget signed by Shapiro in July 2024 kept the general funding for Pitt and the three other state-related universities at the same level it’s been since 2019, but gave a $445,000 boost to Pitt’s rural education outreach.
Pitt received $151.5 million in general support for 2024-25. Each state-related school uses the money if gets from the state to give tuition discounts to in-state students. At Pitt, that means around $15,000 annually per student.
The total for rural education outreach was increased from $3,346,000 to $3,791,000.
Last year, Shapiro asked for a 5 percent increase for each of the schools, which would have meant about $7.5 million more for Pitt.
The budget proposal now must go through the legislature, which is supposed to approve it by June 30 — although it frequently has missed that deadline. A hearing concerning funding for the state-related schools is planned on Feb. 20 before the House Appropriations Committee. No hearing is currently scheduled in the Senate.
Pennsylvania remains one of the few states with a divided legislature. Republicans have control of the Senate by a 27 to 22 margin, with one vacancy. Lancaster County Republican Sen. Ryan Aument resigned to take another job.
The House is currently tied at 101 each for Republicans and Democrats, after the death of state Rep. Matthew Gergely (D-McKeesport) on Jan. 19.
Gergely won re-election in November but experienced an undisclosed health issue in December, which prevented him from being sworn in when the legislative session began on Jan. 5. He passed away two weeks later at the age of 45.
While Gergely was hospitalized, an initial vote for House Speaker took place, in which Joanna McClinton (D-Philadelphia), who held the seat last term, tied with Jesse Topper (R-Fulton/Bedford). Almost immediately after votes were counted, Topper bowed out, saving the House from entering the type of gridlock it experienced last January and February.
A special election will be held on March 25 to fill the seat left vacant by Gergely’s passing and the vacant Senate seat.
Susan Jones is editor of the University Times. Reach her at suejones@pitt.edu or 724-244-4042.
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