State universities now in budget harm’s way

It should be abundantly clear to state lawmakers that failing to pass a revenue package is going to have grave consequences for Pennsylvania’s social services, public schools and institutions of higher learning.

Enough! The state budget mess is now jeopardizing crucial funding for state universities.

When would-be recipients of funds point out the precarious position they’re in, they’re letting everyone know what’s on the line. If that makes legislators uncomfortable, so be it.

In a story in Saturday’s Post-Gazette, state Rep. Kathy Rapp, R-Warren, suggested that University of Pittsburgh Chancellor Patrick Gallagher was fear-mongering when he said the budget stalemate jeopardized the Titutsville campus, an important resource for communities she represents.

“In some ways, it feels like they’re using it as some kind of threat, like, ‘We’ll just close Pitt Titusville if you don’t come through,’ ” she told the PG’s Bill Schackner.

But it was no more a threat than Mr. Gallagher also saying last week that, absent the state coming through with its appropriation of about $147 million for Pitt, the university will have to consider a midyear tuition increase.

Penn State University President Eric Barron last week said his school, too, will have to consider a midyear hike if the state doesn’t provide about $305 million in anticipated funding.

Those were distress signals, not threats, and they were no different than comments other constituencies have made when they felt besieged.

David Spigelmyer, president of the Marcellus Shale Coalition, has said the Senate’s vote for a severance tax on natural gas drillers and expanded taxes on residents’ utility bills would hurt his industry and “erode the commonwealth’s competitive advantage.”

When the House proposed higher hotel taxes, tourism officials said it would devastate that industry.

Those weren’t threats, just attempts at self-preservation in the state’s brutish budget environment.

On June 30, the GOP-controlled Legislature passed a spending plan of nearly $32 billion that included about $650 million collectively for Pitt, Penn State, Temple University in Philadelphia and Lincoln University in Chester County— the four state-related universities — and the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Veterinary Medicine.

Gov. Tom Wolf, a Democrat, let it become law without his signature. Since then, the Legislature has been unable to agree on a revenue package to cover the spending plan.

The Legislature promised the universities the money. The schools shouldn’t be criticized for insisting the state make good on that promise and explaining what will happen if if the money fails to materialize.

Noting that $650 million would go a long way toward plugging the state’s $2 billion-plus deficit, Mr. Gallagher fears that any forthcoming revenue compromise will eliminate appropriations to the universities.

He said his concerns are based on “soft support and soft opposition” from some of those holding the purse strings.

Once gone, he predicted, the money will be difficult to get back in future budget cycles.

That would mean big trouble for students at the state-related universities.

The discounted tuition for in-state students could disappear. All four of Pitt’s regional campuses — including Titusville, a struggling branch where talks for a reconfiguration already are underway — could vanish as well.

Defunding some of the state’s top universities would be a horrible message for state leaders to send to the business community, especially at a time Pittsburgh and Philadelphia are vying for Amazon’s second headquarters.

Mr. Gallagher is right to point out the risks to defunding the state-related universities. Legislators would be wise to listen.

When the budget storm blows over, we expect funding for these schools to remain in place.