\n\tBy SUSAN JONES<\/p>\n
\n\tThe deadline for the Pennsylvania General Assembly to pass the state budget is one day away.<\/p>\n
\n\tWhile many signs point to the closely divided legislature coming to agreement soon \u2014 but probably not by June 30 \u2014 the House and Senate track records for meeting the deadline aren\u2019t good. Last year, it was November before the full budget and Pitt\u2019s funding was approved<\/a> and signed by the governor.<\/p>\n \n\t\tPITT TRUSTEES\u2019 MEETING<\/p>\n \n\t\tThe Pitt Board of Trustees will meet on July 10, when they will set the operating and capital budgets for the 2026-27 fiscal year, including tuition rates and the salary pool. That meeting will be online only starting at 11 a.m., and can be viewed on the University\u2019s YouTube page<\/a>.<\/p>\n \n\tOn June 22, leaders of the Republican-controlled Senate \u2014 Kim Ward (Westmoreland), Joe Pittman (Armstrong and Indiana counties) and Scott Martin (Lancaster) \u2014 said in a statement: \u201cWe are encouraged by the progress made to date and believe a budget agreement can come to fruition in the near future.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tDemocrats hold a slim majority \u2014 102-100 \u2014 in the state House, which passed a budget bill by 107-94 in April. The House bill mirrors the $53.3 billion proposal Gov. Josh Shapiro outlined in February, which would require using about $4 billion from the state\u2019s roughly $8 billion rainy day fund.<\/p>\n \n\tShapiro\u2019s proposal would keep Pitt\u2019s base funding the same as it has been since 2019 \u2014 $151.5 million, which goes toward the discount in-state students get on tuition \u2014 but also would provide $30 million in performance-based funding to be split between Pitt, Penn State and Temple.<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cThe General Assembly and Gov. Josh Shapiro are actively negotiating the state\u2019s budget,\u201d said David Brown, vice chancellor for government relations and advocacy. \u201cWe\u2019ve had discussions with legislative leadership and members in both chambers about the importance of including an allocation for the performance-based funding model this year. We\u2019re optimistic the legislature will pass a budget soon, and we look forward to continuing to partner with them in support of our students and to advance Pennsylvania’s priorities.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n \n\tThe General Assembly adopted the recommendations of the Performance-Based Funding Council during its 2024-25 session, but no money was allocated to fund it. The amount of money to be distributed was left for this year\u2019s legislative session. The formula for distribution will be based on several metrics recommended by the council, including four- and six-year graduation rates, six-year Pell-eligible graduation rates, high-priority occupation degree production and improved college affordability.<\/p>\n \n\tIn a guest editorial earlier this month in the Harrisburg Patriot News\/PennLive.com<\/a>, the leaders of Pitt, Penn State and Temple warned that \u201cWithout funding this year for the state\u2019s new performance-based funding model, we risk losing momentum \u2014 and with it, a key opportunity to strengthen the commonwealth\u2019s workforce, economy and long-term competitiveness.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tThe editorial from Pitt\u2019s Chancellor Joan Gabel, Penn State President Neeli Bendapudi and Temple President John Fry went on to say: \u201cThis is about more than a single year\u2019s budget. It is about establishing a predictable and recurring funding model that aligns resources with results \u2014 providing transparency and accountability for taxpayers while giving universities the stability to plan for the long term. Other states have implemented similar funding models for higher education with success, linking investment to outcomes that matter.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tIn October, Pitt submitted its budget request for 2026-27, which sought a 3.7% increase, based on the Higher Education Price Index projections for 2025.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n \n\tAt a hearing before the House Appropriations Committee in March, Gabel said, \u201cWe think this responsible increase request allows us to protect affordability for Pennsylvania students, maintain our excellence in ways that have yielded for the commonwealth, and in ways that we know make the future very bright for all of higher education and all of the constituencies that we serve,\u201d she continued.<\/p>\n \n\tWhen asked what another year of flat funding would mean at Pitt, Gabel said that although the 2026-27 budget is still being developed, Pitt is anticipating a tuition increase.<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cWe\u2019ve held increases below inflation for at least 10 years, which is resulting in a very heavy constraint on other strategic investments that we\u2019re able to make,\u201d she said. \u201cThe math is relatively clear, that when you hold appropriations flat in an inflationary environment, expenses continue to go up and we have to that figure out somehow. That has resulted in tuition increases.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tSusan Jones is editor of the University Times. Reach her at suejones@pitt.edu<\/a> or 724-244-4042.<\/p>\n \n\t\u00a0<\/p>\n \n\tHave a story idea or news to share? Share<\/a> it with the University Times.<\/p>\n