Patch Poll: Should Public School Funding Grant Be Linked to State Liquor Store Privatization?

Gov. Tom Corbett's 2013-14 budget ties sale of state liquor system to a $1 billion grant for school safety, early education programs, individualized learning and science/math programs.

Gov. Tom Corbett's proposed 2013-14 budget, which he presented Feb. 5, contains an interesting cocktail that mixes the sale of the state's liquor system with funding of a public schools grant. Under his proposal, $1 billion obtained by the proposed privatization of the state's liquor sales would be used to create the Passport for Learning Block Grant that would focus on school safety; enhanced early education programs; individualized learning; and science, technology, engineering and mathematics courses and programs. The $1 billion in revenue to fund that grant will come from the three- to four-year process of selling the Liquor Control Board: $575 million from the wholesale license process, $224 million from the Wine and Spirits retail …

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Joseph

1:47 pm on Tuesday, February 12, 2013

I've been involved. I've seen the beast first hand. The only way to change it is to become a part of the special interest groups or run for office to diffuse the special interest groups (good luck winning an election without the support of special interest groups).   more ›

How Much Money Will Pine-Richland School District Get from Gov. Corbett's Budget?

The Pennsylvania Department of Education lists proposed funds by school district on its website; Patch checked out info for Pine-Richland.

Gov. Tom Corbett's budget is out and, of course, everyone wants to know how much their cut of the budget pie will be—especially school districts. Patch found that Pine-Richland School District is slated to receive a 5 percent increase from $10.3 million for the 2012-13 school year to $10.8 million for 2013-14 if the governor's proposed budget passes, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Education's website. Funding is broken down into six categories on the website. The Pennsylvania Department of Education numbers are in the screenshot above. Here's a little more analysis: Increases: Basic Education Funding —from $4.64 million to $4.73 million, up 4.1 percent School Employees' Social Security—$1.04 million to $1.06 million, up 2.8 …

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Gov. Corbett: Too Early To Tell if Funding for Mental Health Treatment Will Increase

Corbett, while visiting St. Barnabas' Crystal Conservatories for a Presents for Patients event, also speaks about the fiscal cliff and Pennsylvania's budget.

Gov. Tom Corbett—who called for more attention to mental illness in the wake of the Sandy Hook Elementary shootings—would not commit Thursday to increased funding for mental health treatment. The governor said it is too early in the budget process to commit to increasing or decreasing funding for anything. His remarks came during  a press conference at St. Barnabas' Crystal Conservatories in Valencia after a Presents for Patients presentation. Last week, the governor stressed the need to look at mental illness as reporters at a press conference pressed him on whether he would support an assault weapons ban. "It doesn’t matter whether it is an assault weapon or a handgun, it’s the mental illness issue that we have to work as much as we …

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Letter to the Editor

Letter: Grading the State Budget on Education

TEACH (Tell Everyone All Cuts Hurt) representative Steven Singer takes a look at the state budget priorities.

Hey, Taxpayer, While you were out trying to avoid heatstroke this summer, your state government actually did something. The Pennsylvania Legislature passed another one of those pesky budgets determining exactly what your taxes have bought you this year. I don’t know about you, but I don’t mind paying taxes if I get a good return on my investment. And what better investment than our children, our future? I’m speaking, of course, about public education. So was this a good return? Let’s see: GOOD NEWS PA BUDGET PASSED HIGHER THAN GOVERNOR WANTED: Last year, the Legislature cut $818 million from public schools—especially the poorest ones. This year, Gov. Corbett wanted $94 million in additional cuts, but instead the Legislature voted to cut no…

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Letter to the Editor: Gov. Corbett Needs to Raise New Money for Buses, Roads and Bridges

State Rep. Adam Ravenstahl says political fear isn't a good enough reason not to implement revenue-generating ideas that could save bus routes and repair roads and bridges.

A panel handpicked by Gov. Tom Corbett issued a report in August that recommended the state raise $2.7 billion in new revenue to help finance our woefully underfunded mass transit systems and repair our aging roads and bridges.  Since that time, the legislature has waited for the governor to lead on this issue and say which suggestions he would accept from the Transportation Funding Advisory Commission. After all, he has the power of a veto, and no bill will advance without the backing of the governor. We're continuing to wait, and we are seeing the consequences of the governor sitting on his hands. The Allegheny County Port Authority will have a $64 million deficit in the fiscal year that starts July 1. The authority is poised to make …

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Letter to the Editor

Letter to the Editor: T.E.A.C.H. Co-founder Takes on Corbett's Budget

'There's money to be made shortchanging kids' educations,' says letter writer Steven Singer, T.E.A.C.H. co-founder.

For the second consecutive year, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett has proposed massive education budget cuts. For the second year in a row, Corbett has proposed massive cuts to colleges, universities and K-12 public schools. For the second consecutive year, Corbett has proposed the state do less for its citizens and more for big business. Why?  It’s all about profits. There’s money to be made shortchanging kids’ educations.  States throughout the country spend the majority of their budgets on schools. On average, states spend about 40 percent of their tax revenues on K-12 and colleges, according to The National Association of State Budget Officers. That’s some $400 billion every year. Pennsylvania comes in somewhat below the national average …

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