HARRISBURG — Slippery Rock University and Butler County Community College both will lose state funds under Gov. Tom Corbett’s proposed 2012-13state budget.

State universities, including SRU, that are still trying to recover from deep cuts last year would have their public funding slashed even further under the $27.1 billion plan unveiled Tuesday.

Corbett seeks to cut $330 million, or 20 percent, from 14 state-owned universities. He also wants to reduce aid to Penn State, the University of Pittsburgh and Temple University by about 30 percent.

And he proposed a 4 percent funding decrease for state community colleges, which includes BC3.

This budget still requires legislative approval before it becomes final.

Yet Corbett seemed to acknowledge the distress such cuts could cause by simultaneously announcing the creation of a panel to examine higher education funding.

“We need to have a thorough, public and candid conversation about how best to deal with the spiraling costs and our own obligations,” Corbett said.

University leaders said they are still reeling from cuts of about 19 percent last year, which led to tuition increases between 5 percent and 10 percent. In January, the schools were asked to cut back another 5 percent because state revenues were below projections.

Exactly how much less state aid SRU will get will be known later, according to Kenn Marshall, a state system spokesman.

This school year SRU got $28 million in state aid. That is down $4 million from $32 million in 2010-2011.

SRU’s budget this year is $106.5 million.

Marshall said appropriations to individual schools are decided based on factors such as enrollment.

“There’s a whole number of factors,” Marshall said.

The 14 universities in the State System of Higher Education collectively would lose $82 million, taking the schools back to nearly the same funding level they had in 1988-89, according to a system statement.

The schools educated about 96,000 students then, compared with nearly 120,000 students now, said the statement from system Chancellor John Cavanaugh and board President Guido Pichini.

“Taken together, these reductions now mean that we must increasingly decide whether to renovate and maintain our existing physical plant or provide students the courses and programs they require to graduate,” the statement said.

However, it’s possible that the proposed reductions will be softened by the time state lawmakers approve a budget.

That was the case last year when Corbett initially proposed 50 percent cuts to state universities. After student protests, legislative hearings and lengthy negotiations by lawmakers, the cuts were reduced to about 19 percent.

BC3 impact

Nick Neupauer, BC3 president, said the college is still deciphering the direct impact of the budget proposal. However, he said, any cuts to public education are tough on the public.

“Early numbers indicate that the cuts could have a negative effect for years and years to come,” he said.

This year’s proposed 4 percent cut comes on the heels of last year’s $770 million cuts for the 14 community colleges in the state.

Enrollment at BC3 also dropped last year.

Although Neupauer said at first glance a 4 percent cut to community colleges appears to pale in comparison to the 20 percent cut for state system colleges and the nearly 30 percent cut for Penn State.

However, he noted that BC3’s operating budget is only $27 million.

“That 4 percent cut is a huge impact on our institution,” Neupauer said. “A lot of institutions are at their tipping point because of these cuts.”

Higher ed panel

Meanwhile, the governor said his 30-member higher education panel will be headed by Rob Wonderling, a former state senator and current head of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce. Members will include public and private college presidents, business leaders and state education officials.

Among other issues, the panel is tasked with finding ways to make college more affordable and available to students while being “fair” to taxpayers, and with ensuring educational options align with work force needs. Corbett said the group must report back to him by Nov. 15.

Steve Hicks, president of the Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties, said it will be hard to make college less expensive for both students and taxpayers.

“Recognizing the public worth of a college educated populace is the best way to make it affordable,” Hicks said. “We are all better off with a highly educated set of neighbors.”

Temple, Pitt, Penn State and Lincoln University receive some state funding but are not under direct state control. Corbett did not propose cutting Lincoln’s appropriation this year.