Government Affairs Update |
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July 17, 2012,
Volume 59, No. 01 |
Penn's Commonwealth Appropriations for FY 2012-2013
On June 30, 2012, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives (vote of 186-10) and Senate (vote of 49-0) approved the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine non-preferred Commonwealth appropriation bill (Senate Bill 1126) for FY 2012-2013. Governor Tom Corbett signed the bill into law on July 2, 2012 making the appropriation Act 14 A of 2012. The legislation provides $28,137,000 in funding for the School of Veterinary Medicine, a 5% increase over the Governor’s February budget proposal. The appropriation was supported by virtually every major agriculture organization in Pennsylvania, in recognition of Penn Vet’s contribution to agriculture in the Commonwealth.
Appropriations for other sectors of higher education were restored to the FY 2011-2012 level. The Governor initially proposed reductions of 30% for the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education and the state related institutions—Penn State, Pitt, Temple and Lincoln. The final bill restored those cuts in an agreement with the Governor and the General Assembly that required Pitt, Penn State, and Lincoln to agree not to raise tuition above the Consumer Price Index. Temple separately agreed to freeze undergraduate tuition at last year’s level for the forthcoming school year.
The General Assembly also passed, and the Governor approved, Senate Bill 1466, the FY 2012-2013 General Fund Budget for the Commonwealth. Senate Bill 1466 restored funding for the formula portion of the Tobacco Settlement health research program (CURE). The Governor proposed eliminating formula and non-formula CURE funds in his budget proposal in February. Penn receives $8-10 million annually in formula funding. Senate Bill 1466 also included a slight increase in statewide funding for the Department of Public Welfare long-term care line item that funds the School of Nursing LIFE Program while also restoring funding for the Physician Practice Plan under the Department of Public Welfare budget. The practice plan was originally proposed for a 10% reduction. Funding was also restored for the Regional Cancer Institute line-item from which Penn derives funding. Finally, the Department of Community and Economic Development Partners for Regional Economic Performance line-item was level funded. This line item funds Pennsylvania Small Business Development Centers, a consortium of university based business assistance centers including the Wharton Small Business Development Center.
—Jeffrey Cooper, Vice President, Government and Community Affairs |