Proposed budget has few increases for education in Pennsylvania - Mary Niederberger and Eleanor Chute, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

On the higher-education front, state-related universities, including the University of Pittsburgh, Penn State and the 14 state-owned universities, also will see their funding levels remain the same as in 2013-14, but community colleges are in line to get a $3.5 million increase across their 14-college system. Elizabeth Johnston, spokeswoman for Community College of Allegheny County, said CCAC officials welcome the additional funding, but Pitt spokesman Ken Service pointed out that this marks the third year of flat funding for Pitt, "coming on the heels of a $47 million reduction in our operating budget. We believe that sooner or later, Pennsylvania needs to invest more in higher education." Kenn Marshall, spokesman for the State System of Higher Education, declined comment until the budget becomes law. Gov. Tom Corbett has so far withheld his signature from the spending plan the Legislature approved Monday because it did not include a pension reform provision. http://www.post-gazette.com/local/region/2014/07/06/Proposed-budget-has-few-increases-for-education/stories/201407060171