Editorial: Corbett’s proposed budget irresponsible

We’re sure you know by now that Gov. Tom Corbett isn’t exactly a proponent of state funding… We’re sure you know by now that Gov. Tom Corbett isn’t exactly a proponent of state funding for higher education.

And yesterday, he only exacerbated his poor relationship with institutions and students alike.

Corbett unveiled his budget for next year, which has not yet been approved. But it looks like bad news for both public and state-related universities.

Corbett proposed about a 20 percent cut for state universities and about a 30 percent cut for state-related institutions Pitt, Penn State and Temple. Lincoln University, another state-related school, would see no change in funding under the governor’s budget.

Pitt saw about a 19 percent decrease in state funding last year. Therefore, if Corbett’s budget goes through, the University would see funding drop by more than 40 percent in just a two-year period.

So what’s his reasoning? That slashing funds could change the way colleges operate and force them to act like businesses instead of bloated institutions.

Strangely, that was the reasoning last year. And nothing’s changed.

That’s because universities have no incentive to act any differently. They remain in competition with one another, and they’ve adopted the automatic response to raise tuition because “everyone else is doing it.”

And, of course, because they can.

Since there is no procedure in place to tie reduced state funding to tuition rates, the trend of increasing tuition will only continue among schools that wish to remain competitive.

We think hacking higher education subsidies — without any way to help universities keep tuition costs down — is irresponsible.

By showing such a blatant disregard for a solid college education — especially considering the caliber of Pennsylvania’s “public Ivy” schools like Pitt and Penn State — Corbett isn’t investing in the institutions that increase tax revenue in the long run.

And it’s not just the scientists or the engineers who receive degrees from these schools who improve our state. Consider the public-university student who graduates and starts his own business. We can’t afford to lose those students because of ticket price.

Reducing Pitt’s funding by 30 percent would leave the administration with no choice but to increase tuition. And middle-class families — the same ones Corbett says he’s trying to help — will only find it harder to pay for that education, which has become a necessity in today’s economy.

According to the Center for Workforce Information and Analysis, Pitt is the 10th-largest employer based on number of employees among the federal and state government entities in Pennsylvania.

Penn State is the 7th largest, and Temple is the 29th largest.

Considering the importance of these select institutions — and even putting aside the importance of the 14 state-owned institutions that will see funding decreases as well — there is no reason why they should suffer when they work to improve the state every day.

Mr. Governor, we await the day when you can understand the importance of the public university.

We’re sure the recently graduated engineers working with your precious Marcellus Shale do.