Penn State trustees approve 2011-12 budget

Penn State's Board of Trustees today (July 15) approved a $4.1 billion University operating budget for 2011-12. The budget is supported in part by a $279 million in appropriations from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, a decrease of $68 million, or 19.6 percent, from last year. "To say that it has been a tumultuous and unsettled few months leading up to this point would be an incredible understatement," said Penn State President Graham Spanier, who thanked state legislators for moderating the cut in the University's appropriation from initial proposed cuts of 52 percent.