With the White House proposing a rescue plan of more than $800 billion, it is reasonable to ask: Will the federal stimulus package bring relief to Temple?

The House version of the bill, which passed on Jan. 28, includes $6 billion for college and university facilities. The Senate version, passed on Tuesday, contains no such funding. Further, the Senate version directs much less of the $39 billion “stabilization” fund, which was intended to help states restore education budgets, to higher education. Both sides support an increase to the maximum amount for Pell grants that would provide additional financial aid directly to students.

The bottom line is that regardless of what the final version contains, Temple’s bottom line will not improve.

“No matter what the end result, no federal

money will go to Temple’s operating budget, which relies on tuition revenue and the state appropriation,” said Tony Wagner, Temple University’s senior vice president, chief financial officer and treasurer.

The lack of federal help comes on top of declines in the state appropriation. Last week, the state locked in the expected $11.4 million recision to this year’s appropriation and extended it through next year for a total cut of $22.8 million.

To reconcile the cuts to the state appropriation and keep tuition at affordable levels, the university is conducting a comprehensive review to cut 5 percent, or $40 million, from the operating budget in the coming fiscal year. Temple’s operating budget is used to pay recurring expenses, 70 percent of which are salaries and benefits.

Even if the state or the federal government does end up directing money to Temple, that money would most likely be in the form of capital funding. A capital budget, unlike an operating budget, covers one-time only expenses, like the construction of a new building. Such funding cannot be used for recurring costs such as salaries or benefits.

Further, federal funds would be distributed through the state and at this time the state’s plans call for the stimulus money to be allocated to State System of Higher Education schools, such as West Chester and Bloomsburg universities, not state-related institutions such as Temple or Penn State.

“There might end up being a process through which we can apply to the state for federal dollars,” said Wagner. “In the meantime, we will vigorously lobby for inclusion in funding opportunities for higher education, including the tuition subsidy program that has been proposed for the state schools.”