Penn State Harrisburg received a gift last week when the outgoing Casey administration released money for its library, but Gov. Tom Ridge will not dish out any funds until this and other capital projects are reviewed.

John Taylor, deputy press secretary to the governor, said State Budget Secretary Robert Bittenbender has frozen all capital budget funding, pending review by the new administration. This includes the $600,000 released for designing the 115,000 square-foot library facility at Penn State Harrisburg.

"It does not indicate, in any way, the projects won't go forward," Taylor said.

The state is expected to release a total of $17.33 million for construction of the library.

Because some state projects' funds were released near the end of former Gov. Robert P. Casey's term, Taylor said those that are not already under construction will be on hold until Ridge has a chance to review the state's finances.

But University President Joab Thomas is not concerned about the spending freeze.

"I would assume it's a temporary freeze until they assess the funds are available," Thomas said. "I certainly did not expect it."

Other University projects probably will not be affected because the money for the Harrisburg library is the only recent release from the state, Thomas said. Because this is the first change in Pennsylvania's administration that Thomas has experienced, he did not know if capital budget freezing is a common occurrence when new governors take office.

Taylor said spending priorities have to be set and he does not know what action Ridge will take. The spending halt will last until Ridge has the opportunity to see "what financial opportunities he has inherited," he said.

But Thomas has faith the project's money will go through.

"I'm sure they will release the funds," he said.

Besides the money from the state, the Harrisburg campus will attempt to raise another $2 million through private gifts to complete the library project.