Penn State’s Board of Trustees Committee on Finance, Business, and Capital planning voted today to recommend the university request an additional $19.8 million in state appropriations funding for the 2018-2019 fiscal year. This increase would bring Penn State’s total state appropriations to $337.9 million.

Mary Lou Ortiz, who began working as the university’s Budget Officer on October 1, presented the budget proposal during the committee meeting Thursday at the Penn Stater.

“In light of the state’s current fiscal climate, we appreciate the support provided to Penn State and higher education by both the Legislature and the governor,” Penn State President Eric Barron said in a press release. “Penn State’s general support appropriation directly impacts thousands of Pennsylvania families each year, as it is used to keep tuition lower for Pennsylvania students.”

“Ensuring that a high-quality education remains affordable for Pennsylvania’s working families is one of the University’s top priorities, and state support plays a critical role in assuring that a Penn State education remains accessible to the Commonwealth’s best and brightest students.”

Although the state legislature is supposed to pass a budget by July 1 of each year, the bill that provided state appropriations for this year (2017-2018) wasn’t approved until late October.

The committee unanimously approved the proposal; the full Board of Trustees will vote on the recommendation at its official meeting Friday afternoon.