March 25, 2016
State System offers statement on approval of 2015-16 supplemental budget
Contact:
Kevin Hensil, khensil@passhe.edu
The following statement is being released in response to Gov. Tom Wolf’s announcement
that he will allow the 2015-16 supplemental budget passed last week by the Legislature
to become law without his signature. The supplemental budget includes an additional
$20.6 million for the State System, representing a 5 percent increase over the 2014-15
total. Combined with the $412.7 million included in the budget passed in December,
the State System’s total appropriation for the current fiscal year will be $433.3
million. The increase is the first received by the System since 2008-09.
Statement from Guido M. Pichini, chairman of Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher
Education’s Board of Governors:
"We are grateful for the new investment in our students and universities, which will
help us to reduce our mounting budget deficit. We hope that this increase—the first
in seven years—represents the beginning of a renewed investment in higher education
in Pennsylvania. Many individuals, including our university presidents, faculty and
staff, trustees, alumni, and students, have spent countless hours over the past several
months advocating for the State System. We will continue to work hard to demonstrate
to everyone how the state’s investment produces positive results for our students
and the Commonwealth.”