Gov. to announce state budget, Pitt appropriations

By Gwenn Barney / For The Pitt News

published: Mon, 8 Feb, 2010

The governor plans to introduce his budget to legislators tomorrow morning, unveiling how much money Pitt can hope to receive in state funding this year.

Representatives from several state legislators declined to reveal how much money he’s set aside for Pitt and the state’s three other state-related universities.

Gabe Spece, a research analyst for Rep. Dan Frankel, who serves on the House Committee on Appropriations, predicted that

Pitt will receive slightly more funding this year than it did last year to account for inflation. The increase, however, will probably be minimal. 

“It’s difficult for [the Commonwealth] to stretch their dollar,” he said. “The recession is definitely a factor.”

Pitt received $185.4 million in state funding this past December, almost six months after it was scheduled to receive the money. 

Gov. Ed Rendell will unveil his budget at 10 a.m., in his last budget speech as governor. Reporters for WGAL, a news station in central Pennsylvania, expect the governor to pay special attention to increased public school spending and the current $450 million deficit in state spending. They also expect him to propose new taxes on the extraction of natural gas and cigar and smokeless tobacco sales.