HARRISBURG -- Penn State President Graham Spanier made his case before the state House Appropriations Committee yesterday for Penn State to receive more funding for the 2006-07 academic year.

In his opening remarks before the committee, Spanier addressed Penn State's proposed tuition freeze for 20 of the university's Commonwealth Campuses, not including University Park.

Spanier said he was grateful for Gov. Ed Rendell's proposed 3.3 percent increase in appropriations for Penn State, but that "in the face of steeply rising costs, such an appropriation falls far short of what is needed to hold our tuition at the current rate."

Administrators have said that a 9.5 percent increase in the appropriation would make the tuition freeze possible.

Rendell proposed an appropriation Feb. 8 of $322.4 million for Penn State next year.

Spanier also questioned the state's commitment to higher education, saying that 8 percent of the state's appropriations go to support higher education in some way.

"Pennsylvania, frankly, ranks near the bottom among the 50 states in per capita student expenditure," Spanier said. "Other states have placed a higher priority on higher education. It is one of the most important investments we can make in the future of the commonwealth."

State Rep. Jake Wheatley Jr., D-Allegheny, told Spanier that he thought it was unfair to place the responsibility of tuition increases on the Legislature, saying that there were other factors to consider.

"It is not just the general assembly that is causing the strain," Wheatley said. "It is a complex issue."

State Rep. Patrick Fleagle, R-Franklin, asked Spanier if the university was considering a policy that would allow out-of-state students who live within a certain distance of a Commonwealth Campus to pay in-state tuition.

"That is something we're studying right now," Spanier said. He added that it might be addressed at the July meeting of the Penn State Board of Trustees.

State Rep. Gibson Armstrong, R-Lancaster, asked Spanier how many construction projects the university is currently working on and how much they would cost.

Though Spanier had no specific cost figures for the projects, he said the university always identified the source of all the funding before breaking ground.

"We never start a construction project unless we know exactly where the funds are coming from," Spanier said, adding that there were "about a dozen" projects currently in design or being constructed.

During his opening remarks, Spanier expressed disappointment in other aspects of Rendell's proposed budget.

"The proposed state budget inexplicably provides no increase for the outreach provided by our extension and agricultural research programs," Spanier said.

The mission of cooperative extension is "to extend nonformal outreach educational opportunities to individuals, families, and businesses and communities throughout Pennsylvania," according to the Web site www.extension.psu.edu.

During questioning from members of the committee, state Rep. Matthew Baker, R-Bradford and Tioga, asked Spanier if Pennsylvania's rural areas could be negatively affected if there is no increase in the budget for cooperative extension and agricultural research.

"The greatest disappointment in the governor's budget recommendation is that there is no increase in these line items," Spanier said.

Spanier added that this would be the third year in a row that the budget for these items would not be increased, which could require Penn State to cut more than 50 employees.

"If you expect to dismantle cooperative extension and agricultural research, tell us," Spanier said to the legislators assembled. "But to put us in for no increase? It makes no sense to me."

Spanier is scheduled to appear before the state Senate Appropriations Committee on Tuesday in a hearing alongside leaders from the University of Pittsburgh, Temple University and Lincoln University.