The proposed cuts follow a substantial decrease in funding to the state universities in the current year that led to tuition increases at all 18 schools, as well as a recently announced midyear, 5 percent retraction of funding.
"For the second year, we're going to force universities to raise tuition at a time when we should make access to education affordable," said Sen. Larry Farnese (D., Phila.) of the Republican governor's budget.
The governor last year proposed a 50 percent cut in funding to the state-related universities; ultimately a 19 percent cut was adopted after negotiations with the General Assembly.
"I don't know if the governor will do what he did last year - come out with a large number hoping he gets half of it," said Art Hochner, president of the 1,350-member Temple faculty union.
The Corbett administration has warned about the state's worsening budget picture. State revenue is down 3.5 percent, or nearly $500 million lower than projected since July 2011. The most recent figures, for January 2012, continue that trend, falling $10 million or 0.5 percent less than anticipated.
Most officials at local universities were hesitant to comment, wanting to wait and see if the numbers change before the governor delivers his address.
Robert R. Jennings, president of Lincoln University, said that another cut would be "completely devastating" to the historically black institution.
Lincoln raised tuition 7.5 percent after a 19 percent funding reduction last year.
Students, faculty, and staff said they would prepare to lobby legislators to oppose the funding cut. They fear it could bring layoffs and even higher tuition increases.
"We're going to fight back," said Hochner, the Temple union leader. "I'm afraid that ultimately [the governor] wants to whittle down the state support to practically nothing. It's an extreme agenda and really should be exposed as a radical agenda."
