CHESTER COUNTY, Pa. (KYW Newsradio) — The ongoing budget impasse in Pennsylvania means community colleges still aren’t getting money from the state. Meanwhile, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro was in Chester County on Friday to celebrate funding for state universities, including Lincoln University.
Shapiro signed House Bill 1461 into law on Nov. 16, which provides state funding for state-related universities. He told those gathered at Lincoln for a ceremonial signing that the school will receive an increase in state funding by more than 21%, to more than $18 million.
That boost will find instructor compensation, as well as scholarships, according to the governor.
“That’s more money for Lincoln to train the next generation of leaders,” said Shapiro, “leaders I must say we desperately need in our society right now.”
While Lincoln received the bulk of the additional money, Penn College of Technology got a 12% increase in funding. However, Penn State, University of Pittsburgh and Temple University’s state funding remained flat.
The state legislature’s ongoing delay in finishing Pennsylvania’s budget means certain fiscal code bills that would release funding to community colleges have not been passed. None of Pennsylvania’s 15 community colleges secured funding this year. The delayed code bills have also held up funding for various nonprofit organizations, as well as libraries around the state.