An increase in funding from the state allowed the Slippery Rock University Council of Trustees to approve the budget for 2022-23 Friday with a projected surplus of $73,951.

The decision comes after its finance and administrative affairs committee in June reviewed four budget scenarios — all with deficits.

The finalized 2022-23 budget features the surplus despite its total expenditures of $148 million, The expenditures were an increase of 2.9% compared to last year.

The state budget passed in July included a $200 million investment in student tuition and has allocated an additional $75 million for the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education.

SRU received $9.7 million through the state appropriations, helping to offset a deficit resulting from enrollment decreases and increased expenses for services and supplies.

“If we didn't get the funding from commonwealth, we were trying to come up with the best way to survive,” Bill Behre, president of the university, said in July. “Now we are looking at how to thrive.”

Behre said the increase in state funding allowed the school to forgo a tuition increase this year, which the trustees voted to ensure in July. The university has kept tuition flat since 2018-19, according to a news release from SRU.

The trustees passed the budget in a 7-3 vote Friday. The approval includes a planned use of $3 million in prior-year allocations for student aid and other non-personnel, strategic initiatives. The proposed budget will be forwarded to the Pennsylvania Board of Governors for approval at its next meeting Oct. 20.

Carrie Birckbichler, SRU vice president for finance and administration, said the state funding helped university administrators to better balance the budget this year.

“We're grateful for the substantial increase in state appropriation, because without it, the university would require additional revenue sources or have to reduce expenses to balance the budget,” Birckbichler said. “The proposed budget the trustees approved allows us to continue to serve our students and carry out the mission of the university.”