Governor Josh Shapiro was in Pittsburgh earlier this week touting his new plans and investment goals for community colleges in Pennsylvania.
The plan would see a new governing structure for community colleges and state universities. Those two institutions would become equal partners in this system.
One of the big changes proposed is for students whose families earn $70,000 or less, they would pay $1,000 in tuition per semester. All community colleges would also keep their local governing boards.
Many Republicans have criticized Governor Shapiro’s spending plan but the governor says these are worthwhile investments.
“I know there are some that say we can’t afford this plan. Let me say, that we cannot afford not to invest right now,” Shapiro said. “We are sitting in this Commonwealth on a $14 billion surplus.”
This plan would impact both higher education institutions in the county, with Butler County Community College and Slippery Rock University.
Shapiro also claims that if his budget were to pass Pennsylvania would still have a $11 billion surplus.