Proposed Pa. budget would halve U. funding

Republican Governor Tom Ridge, announced his new budget proposal Wednesday, calling for a 50 percent cut in funding to the University -- from $35.5 million to $17.7 million. Ridge explained that the cut to private universities would save the state more than $35 million. And under the proposal, public schools throughout Pennsylvania will receive no additional money for next year, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer. Private schools affected by the cuts include Penn as well as Drexel and Thomas Jefferson universities and the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. Carol Scheman, vice president of Government, Community and Public Affairs at the University, said the administration is taking the proposal very seriously. Scheman said the cuts would result in no state funding for general education at the University, 50 percent cuts in state medical instruction funds, 50 percent cuts in support for dental clinics and a 27 percent cut in public aid to the School of Veterinary Medicine. "This is a problem because the Vet School is one of the only ones of its kind in the area," she said. "This is an agricultural area, so a lot of important technology comes from there." Scheman explained that the budget proposal is still in its very early stages. The proposal still has to go through the Republican-controlled Pennsylvania General Assembly for inspection and possible changes, then signed by the governor before it takes effect. "I'm estimating that we won't hear anything about it until at least June," Scheman said. This is not the first time such budget cuts have been proposed by the governor's office. Robert Casey, (D), Ridge's predecessor, attempted to cut funding for private universities during his second term, but legislators restored them, according to the Inquirer. Scheman said University officials hope to persuade the legislature to once again restore the funding. "We're not jumping up and down with panic yet, but the University is definitely taking the issue very seriously," she said. Scheman added that University President Judith Rodin has begun to talk to school deans about the issue. "I'm sure we'll have to spend considerable amounts of time in Harrisburg trying to persuade them they're wrong," she added.