U. awaits response to state funding plan

The University's request for nearly $41.2 million in state funding for the 1992-93 fiscal year took weeks of planning by University administrators, but the waiting and uncertainty have only just begun. Although the funding request was sent to Harrisburg last week, the first clear indication of how much the University can actually expect to receive from the state next year will not emerge until February, when Gov. Robert Casey releases his budget proposal. And, by all accounts, it is still too early to determine if the University will receive the full amount or face a budget crisis similar to the one last summer, which threatened to cut this year's $37.6 million allocation nearly in half. "It would be premature for us to speculate on any funding requests since the budget review process is extensive and has just begun," Casey spokesperson Sue Grimm said yesterday. One key factor clearly will be how much revenue is generated by several tax increases that were included in the current budget. "Revenues will be a critical determinant in next year's budget," said Mary Soderberg, a budget analyst for the state House Appropriations Committee. "And we don't have a clear enough reading of what those revenues will be." Several legislative aides in Harrisburg said the tax revenues are close to last year's predictions, but they added certain sales taxes have not been implemented yet. Soderberg said some programs, possibly including funding for higher education, would have to be cut if the tax revenues come up short. "You either have to take money from someone else or you have to increase taxes," she said. "We're not going to see any tax increases, I can guarantee you that." Senior Vice President Marna Whittington said last week she realized another budget crisis would make it more difficult for the University's request to pass the legislature intact. But she and other University administrators said next year's request, which is 9.5 percent higher than this year's allocation, is needed to offset a decrease in the real value of the state's allocation, which has barely risen over the last two years. Soderberg said the governor's budget proposals always have "a kind of theme," emphasizing different programs from year to year. She said despite the governor's recommended cuts for higher education last February, colleges and universities could fare better this time around. House Minority Leader Matthew Ryan (R-Delaware Co.) said in a statement that although the University's requested 9.5 percent increase "would seem high," he was hopeful Casey would be more supportive considering the governor's "sparse support for higher education this year."

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