2016-17 State Budget Improves Funding for Schools
The spending plan is supported by a revenue package passed in the House and Senate today that includes revenue-generating options such as liquor modernization, expanded gaming, taxes on cigarettes and smokeless tobacco, and new tax rules that treat books, movies and music downloaded online the same as those purchased in stores. The package does not increase any broad-based tax.
The state Senate approved the measure 28-22 with 14 Republicans and 14 Democrats voting in support. The vote in the state House was 116-75 with 68 Democrats and 48 Republicans voting yes.
Among them was House Democratic Whip Mike Hanna (D-Clinton/Centre). He said the budget makes a substantial investment in education at all levels, including a $200 million increase for K-through-12 classrooms, another $30 million for early childhood education and a $20 million increase for special education.
“In addition to the devastating $1 billion in school funding cuts under Tom Corbett in 2011, the state has been chronically underfunding its share of education costs for years,” Hanna said. “This budget represents a significant step in our effort to provide all kids in the state access to a quality education and to lower the financial burden on homeowners by reducing the pressure of ever-rising property taxes,” he said.
Hanna pointed out that the state’s new basic education funding formula will help to gradually reduce school funding disparities over time.
“However, without providing adequate funding under that formula, it could take some school districts decades to catch up. Kids shouldn’t have to wait years for a quality education based on where they live,” Hanna said.
25th district state Sen. Joe Scarnati (R-Brockway) was among the Republicans supporting the measure in the upper chamber. He later issued a statement noting the measure approved today includes the 67 percent hike in the state’s local Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) for land owned by the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. The PILT hike is expected to be something of a financial boon for Clinton County, the Keystone Central School District and a number of county townships. The state’s largest DCNR acreage is located in Clinton County.
Scarnati said, “This investment of state dollars in our local area will be a tremendous help to many local counties, municipalities and school districts.” The PILT increase will take effect July 1, 2017.
