Blog #20-1 State Budget
It has been over a hundred days since Pennsylvania lawmakers were supposed to pass the state’s annual budget, and the effects of it not being passed are already affecting Penn State students. For many students, the budget may seem like a distant issue happening in Harrisburg, however in reality, it is a decision that can and has directly affected tuition prices, SNAP benefits, state grants, and university services that shape student life.
How does this affect you?
For Penn Staters, the budget not being passed can conclude to slower access to aid, delayed services, and an uncertainty around tuition costs. State grants that help thousands of students pay to attend a prestigious university like Penn State are at risk of being delayed. Services that are directly tied to state appropriations such as mental health programs may also face temporary limits.
The delay stems from a divide between the Democratic led House and the Republican controlled Senate who have yet to agree on how much to spend - and where. The House passed a $50.3 billion proposal which has prioritized increasing funding for K-12 and higher education. The Senate has insisted on holding state spending to $47.6 billion, warning that higher levels could lead to long-term fiscal instability. According to Spotlight PA, this impasse has already disrupted several funding streams for public schools and state-related universities. Social service agencies that rely on state appropriations have also been affected.
Though some progress in getting the state budget has been made, such as transportation funding, there is still a divide over broader spending priorities which include the overall spending cap, PA state grant funding, whether to draw from the rainy-day fund to cover new expenses, and the use of sales, gaming, or medical marijuana tax revenue to fill in fiscal gaps. Even when the budget seems to be in agreement in the future, which everyone is hoping for this upcoming November 17–19 session, code bills - which are separate laws that authorize how funds are actually distributed - must still be passed. Until that point is reached, the state’s money remains legally untouchable.
Pennsylvania’s higher education is one of the lowest in the nation, ranking close to the bottom of per-student investment. For state-related universities, including Penn State, University of Pittsburgh, and Temple, each missed deadline adds to pressure to maintain accessibility without adequate state support. Penn State especially is the lowest state-associated school to get funding. This debate of the budget is more than just finances, it is about the vision of public education.
What can you do as a student?
Learn and get involved! Below are some of the listed ways to help out:
Sign up for Advocate Penn State – https://advocate.psu.edu/
Contact your local legislators – https://www.palegis.us/
Educate yourself on these issues!
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