Pitt’s fight for funding: Local organizations, business leaders pen support

PITTSBURGH — As the deadline for the state government to vote on its appropriated funding bill approaches, the University of Pittsburgh is ramping up its advocacy campaign.

Each year, through the appropriation funding it receives from the state of Pennsylvania due to its status as a state-related university, Pitt is typically able to offer in-state students a $15,000 per year reduction in tuition, something that the school, local businesses and organizations, and students and alumni say is critical to higher education access and the growth of the region’s economy. Pitt said the state funding amounts to 60% of the tuition discount and that the university itself makes up the difference.

Gov. Tom Wolf’s current 2022-2023 budget proposal includes a 5%, or $125 million, increase to the amount of appropriations funding it provides to higher education institutions. In the proposed budget, Pitt would receive over $159 million in general support funding, which would go toward the tuition discountsLast year, the university received about $151 million. A vote in Harrisburg to pass the upcoming year’s budget must take place prior to the end of June.

Click here to read more from the Pittsburgh Business Times.

AAA reminds drivers of air-conditioning usage amid high temps and high gas prices

©2022 Cox Media Group