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Students Feeling the Impact of an Unsigned Budget

BLOOMSBURG — It’s back to the books this week for students at Bloomsburg University. While the first week of classes isn’t usually too stressf...
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BLOOMSBURG -- It's back to the books this week for students at Bloomsburg University.

While the first week of classes isn't usually too stressful, students like Saige Gabrielli are thinking about financial aid.

"It hasn't kicked in quite yet so right now me and my family are paying completely out of pocket for everything," Gabrielli said.

That's because in Harrisburg lawmakers still haven't agreed on a state budget.

It's preventing the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency or PHEAA from releasing state money to colleges and universities.

Amanda Kishbaugh, the interim director of financial aid, says the university is doing what it can to help by crediting student accounts.

"Right now our students are able to register for their classes and attend without any issues. They're also able to use their monies as planned in the bookstore for any purchases they would be making with PHEAA grant funds," Kishbaugh said.

The students who may be feeling the impacts of an unsigned budget are ones who use PHEAA money for things like food and even rent off campus.

School officials at Bloomsburg University don't have the official enrollment numbers yet for the school year.

So far the university knows of 2,620 students due to receive the state grant.

For students like Nana Yaw Effah who moved to Pennsylvania from Africa seven years ago, this grant is a big help. He says the grant is nice because it doesn't have to be paid back.

"I come from a low-income family so I know it helps me a lot. Every bit helps me a lot," Effah said.

As it nears two months with an unsigned budget some students say they're frustrated with lawmakers.

Gabrielli says she's just trying to get an education.

"I mean I don't know if it would be right to say it's greedy, but it kind of is. You're withholding money from people that really need it. It's not like we're freeloaders. We're not working and we're not trying to pay for it," Gabrielli said.

Newswatch 16 reached out to Governor Tom Wolf's press office to see if there is an update on the state budget.

The press office said Republicans aren't meeting halfway on issues.

The press office added, Wolf is committed to education and he's hopeful a budget will be passed soon.

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