Pa. budget calls for $30 million in cuts to New Bolton

EAST MARLBOROUGH >> Gov. Tom Wolf’s budget that was unveiled last week is proposing to eliminate all state funding – totaling about $30 million – to the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Veterinary Medicine.

PennVet’s school helps the industry cope with a declining number of veterinarians who specialize in treating large farm animals. PennVet’s 700-acre New Bolton Center in Kennett Square is renowned as one of the nation’s foremost large animal hospitals, handling more than 4,000 patient visits annually, primarily horses. The Field Services treats 36,000 patients at local farms, including horses and livestock. Emergency

services are open 365 days a year, seven days a week, 24 hours a day.

Ashley Berke director of communications at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, said officials there are optimistic the cuts will not be included in the final version of the budget.

The students, faculty and staff of the University of Pennsylvania recognize the severity of the commonwealth’s budget challenges,” she said. “The governor’s

proposed budget does not include the annual appropriation that supports clinical services, research and scholarship at Penn’s School of Veterinary Medicine. This is an opportunity to expand awareness of the Vet School’s historic partnership with the commonwealth, which was designed to protect the health and safety of the citizens of Pennsylvania and its largest industry, agriculture. Funding from the commonwealth ensures the Vet School’s ability to deliver life-saving services at its two animal hospitals, advance research programs that support the agricultural

industry, and maintain our commitment to developing and growing the veterinary profession.”

Berke said the Vet School is essential to the success of the statewide agriculture community. She said the school is a major contributor to maintaining the viability, health and profitability of the state’s diverse and economically important livestock and poultry industries.

During the 2015 budget impasse, which occurred during the most recent national Avian Influenza outbreak, Penn Vet played a critical role, conducting over 70,000 tests to check

the costly spread of disease. The state allocated $800,000 last year to the University of Pennsylvania’s New Bolton Center for Avian Research.

“Today, 40 percent of Penn Vet’s students are residents of Pennsylvania, and two-thirds of its graduating students remain in Pennsylvania to practice,” she said. “There is a practicing Penn-trained veterinarian serving in almost every county in the commonwealth. We understand this is the beginning of important budget discussions and look forward to illustrating the full value of Penn Vet to Governor Wolf and the General

Assembly.”

State Sen. Andy Dinniman, D-19, said he broke from his party caucus to vote in favor of the budget last week.

Dinniman said he was concerned about funding for schools in his senatorial district – including the Coatesville Area School District, Lincoln University and the New Bolton Center veterinary school – and he wanted to make sure they had enough money to operate until the end of the year. He said he also wanted to make sure Penn State’s agricultural extension offices would receive funds and not have to layoff staff or shut

down 4-H programs.

“I was concerned about what would happen if we didn’t move forward with the budget,” Dinniman said. “People were hurt, many badly hurt, when institutions, programs and individuals could not get services, and money was not available.”

Wolf’s $32.3 billion budget represents a $571.5 million spending increase over last year. Wolf said he is seeking to close the state’s $3 billion deficit through government cuts and reforms.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.