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January 9, 2003

State orders 1% cut in Pitt appropriation

Governor Mark Schweiker has frozen 1 percent of the state’s non-preferred expenditures, including appropriations to Pennsylvania’s state-related universities — Pitt, Penn State, Temple and Lincoln.

Schweiker imposed the freeze Dec. 10 in an effort to help Governor-elect Ed Rendell balance the state’s budget. If it becomes permanent, the freeze would reduce Pitt’s state funding by just under $1.77 million for the fiscal year that ends June 30.

“As with previous mid-year freezes in our state funding, it’s going to come down to the economy,” said Charles F. McLaughlin, Pitt assistant director of Commonwealth Relations. “If the economy does well and state revenues are sufficient, the state may restore these frozen funds to us. If not, we’ll have to absorb a cut.” Last year, the state froze and subsequently cut 3 percent from the budgeted appropriations of Pitt and the other state-related schools.

Prior to last month’s 1 percent freeze, Pitt’s state appropriation for the 2002-03 fiscal year was budgeted to total $176.7 million.

— Bruce Steele

Filed under: Feature,Volume 35 Issue 9

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