Post-Gazette: Pennsylvania’s budget moves forward
By Karen Langley / Post-Gazette Harrisburg Bureau
HARRISBURG — Legislative leaders and the governor’s office said Monday that they have tentatively agreed to a framework for an end to the impasse that has delayed the Pennsylvania state budget more than four months.
Leaders from both parties in the House and Senate briefed their members on the proposals under discussion, which Republican leaders said include increases in education funding, a hike in the sales tax and a large increase in relief from local property taxes.
It was clear that disagreement remains. While a spokesman for Gov. Tom Wolf, a Democrat, insisted that Republicans had committed to particular increases in the main K-12 education funding line and funding for special education and pre-K over the next two years, aides to the top Senate Republicans said that was not entirely the case.
“We’re moving, which is obviously a huge step forward for all of us,” said Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman, R-Centre. “I think we can resolve these other issues in a fairly short period of time, but until they’re resolved, I can’t tell you we’re done because we’re not.”
Mr. Corman said that framework involves an increase from 6 percent to 7.25 percent in the state sales tax, generating $2 billion that would be used to reduce property taxes. Two other tax increases originally proposed by Mr. Wolf — a hike in the personal income tax and the establishment of a severance tax on natural gas drilling — are not part of the discussion, Mr. Corman said.
Reaching a final deal will require negotiators to arrive at a plan for the state’s system of alcohol sales, which Republicans have proposed disbanding, and to finalize a proposal of changes to the pension systems for state and public school workers, he said. They would also need to decide on a way to distribute the property-tax money among school districts and a way to control increases in property taxes at the local level, he said.
House Majority Leader Dave Reed, R-Indiana, said raising the sales tax to 7.25 percent is “part of that discussion,” and that the increase in revenue would be driven out to homesteads and farmsteads. Mr. Reed said House Republicans had many questions but that the briefing went well.
“Our members want to get done by Thanksgiving just like the governor and everybody else,” he said.
Jeffrey Sheridan, spokesman for Mr. Wolf, said Republican leaders had committed to specific increases in education funding: $350 million in the main K-12 education line along with $50 million for special education and $50 million for pre-K this year and then in the year beginning in July 2016 another $200 million for the main K-12 line along with another $50 million for special education and $50 million for pre-K.
“He secured from Republican leaders a historic commitment in education funding,” Mr. Sheridan said. “It would be the largest single increase in education funding in the history of Pennsylvania.”
Mr. Corman said the framework includes $350 million in basic education funding and $50 million in special education, while Mr. Reed said the $350 million figure “certainly is a potential number for this year.”
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AP: Budget deal near with higher sales tax, more school funding
By MARC LEVY and MARK SCOLFORO
The Associated Press
HARRISBURG, Pa. — A potential deal to break Pennsylvania’s budget stalemate in its fifth month includes a state sales tax increase, expanded school property tax cuts and hundreds of millions of new dollars for public schools, top state lawmakers said Monday.
Gov. Tom Wolf’s office said the new money for public schools amounted to a record increase, a major priority of his, even if the first-term Democrat had made major concessions in other areas, such as losing his fight to impose a tax on Marcellus Shale natural gas production.
It also appeared that Wolf would get at least a portion of the multibillion-dollar state tax increase that he had sought to help correct a long-term deficit and transform a school funding system that harbors huge disparities between rich and poor districts.
Meanwhile, the Legislature’s huge Republican majorities made headway on their goal of imposing major pension changes for future state and school employees, while plans to privatize some or all of the state-controlled wine and liquor system remained up in the air.
Many other crucial details were unresolved Monday and negotiators said a final agreement would not be in place until all of its elements get settled.
“Nothing is agreed to until everything is agreed to,” said Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman, R-Centre. “We’re trying to put a framework together that will move us forward to get to a final agreement.”
Still, disagreements remained about the extent of settled details. For instance, Wolf’s office said it had secured an agreement for $750 million in new dollars over two years for public schools, special education and pre-kindergarten programs. Republican lawmakers disputed some elements of that assertion.
The parties did agree, however, that public schools would get $350 million in new money for instruction and operations, a 6 percent increase to about $6.1 billion. Wolf had originally sought $400 million.
Ironing out those details and passing legislation could require several more weeks.
“There’s a lot of second-, third- and fourth-tier decisions that need to be made,” said House Majority Leader Dave Reed, R-Indiana.
Under the preliminary deal, state spending would rise to $30.7 billion, up about 6 percent from last year’s approved budget. It would be boosted by about $500 million in slot-machine gambling revenue that is currently passed along to homeowners as school property tax cuts. That money would be diverted into a restricted account to pay for public school employee pension obligations.
The loss of that money for school property tax cuts would be replaced by about $2 billion expected from a state sales tax increase to 7.25 percent, up from the current 6 percent. The rate would rise to 8.25 percent in Allegheny County, where it is currently 7 percent, and to 9.25 percent in Philadelphia, where it is currently 8 percent.
Amid staunch Republican opposition, a deal would not include a new tax on Marcellus Shale production that Wolf had sought. Tax increases on cigarettes and on banks were still under discussion.
There was no agreement on how new money for schools and property tax cuts would be distributed to each district, an issue that the governor’s office has said is of “critical importance.” Meanwhile, negotiators were discussing measures to further limit the ability of school boards to raise taxes as part of the package of new money.
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Pre-K for PA Urges Leaders in Harrisburg to Negotiate a Budget that Boosts Early Learning
Harrisburg, PA (July 1)—The Pre-K for PA campaign, along with the Early Learning PA coalition, today called on leaders in Harrisburg to continue negotiating a budget that builds on the increased investment in early childhood education.
The coalition partners called the budget passed by the House and Senate on Tuesday, which included a $30 million increase, a good first step. That increase would serve about 3,500 more 3- and 4-year-olds who can benefit from high-quality pre-k programs. The campaign urged more significant investments so more children can benefit in the coming school year.
Nearly 70 percent of Pennsylvania’s 3- and 4-year-olds – more than 200,000 children in all – don’t have access to high-quality pre-k. The campaign supports an investment of an additional $120 million in fiscal 2015-16, which would allow another 14,000 children to benefit.
The principal partners of the Pre-K for PA campaign (listed below) issued the following statement:
“Our coalition leaders understand that negotiations can be difficult, particularly when it comes to expanding investments, but we know that high-quality pre-k works and the failure to invest at a higher level will have negative impacts on many children. An investment of $120 million this coming fiscal year and in the subsequent three state budgets will set us on a path that will allow every child born today who is at-risk of school failure and some middle class kids access to high-quality pre-k.
“Our coalition members have spoken to dozens of lawmakers who have enthusiastically voiced their support for investing more in our state’s youngest learners, far too many of whom are left out of this budget. Gov. Wolf’s original budget proposal only increases access to 1 in 4 of our 3- and 4-year-olds, which is why our commitment to high-quality pre-k investments needs to be a long-term one that goes beyond a single budget year.
“We urge lawmakers and Gov. Wolf to keep in mind those children who will start kindergarten behind their peers because they missed out on the benefits high-quality pre-k provides. There are no do-overs for these children.
“We encourage Gov. Wolf and all legislative leaders to advance negotiations on behalf of each kid who would gain access to high-quality pre-k and craft a budget that adequately invests in this proven learning resource.”
Pre-K for PA is an issue campaign supported by individuals and organizations across Pennsylvania who believe that investing in our children is the right choice and an urgent necessity. Our vision is that every 3- and 4-year-old in Pennsylvania will have access to high-quality pre-k. We will not endorse nor oppose candidates, but rather we will advocate on behalf of this vision for Pennsylvania’s children, schools and communities. For more information www.prekforpa.org.
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The Budget passed by the House last week was passed in the Senate today. Unfortunately, the level of pre-k funding it includes for fiscal 2015-16 does not go far enough to expand access to high-quality pre-k urgently needed for Pennsylvania’s families.
While we at the Pre-K for PA campaign are very heartened that House and Senate leaders boosted pre-k funding considerably and we recognize the actions are the first step in the budget process, the budget falls short of the enormity of the need to make sure children start school ready to learn.
With fewer than 20 percent of Pennsylvania’s 3- and 4-year-olds able to access publicly funded, high-quality pre-k programs, the pace of expansion must be hastened. At a minimum, the fiscal 2015-16 investment should be $120 million.
Your continued support is so valuable as we reach out to the governor and all legislators to work with them toward reaching a final budget agreement that makes the level of investment in pre-k that we all know is needed.
This weekend the PA House of Representatives is expected to pass a 2015-2016 state budget that authorizes no new taxes yet grows funding for high-quality pre-k by $30 million, which would provide access to approximately 3,500 more children. The $30 million investment is significantly less than the $120 million proposed by the Administration that would serve approximately 14,000 additional children.
The Pennsylvania Senate will vote on this measure early next week and send it to the Governor’s desk where a veto is expected. This will set up a budget standoff for early July where your voice will be critical in advocacy efforts to help ensure greater funding for high-quality pre-k access in a final state budget.
The Pre-K for PA campaign and its partners are leading the charge in Harrisburg on behalf of the Commonwealth’s youngest learners. Please check for emails from Pre-K for PA and visit the website next week for the most up-to-date information on how you can lend support.
A Good Day for Pre-K!
Pre-K for PA, Early Learning PA Supporters Cheer Governor Wolf’s Proposed Investments in Early Learning
HARRISBURG (March 3, 2015)– The Pre-K for PA campaign, along with the Early Learning PA coalition, today applauded Gov. Tom Wolf’s proposal for substantial increases to state investments in high-quality pre-kindergarten and child care – investments that will help Pennsylvania make up lost ground and increase access to high-quality early learning programs for more children.
Gov. Wolf’s proposed budget for fiscal 2015-16 calls for:
- Increasing funding for Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts by $100 million, which will nearly double the commonwealth’s current annual investment of $97.3 million.
- A $20 million increase in state funding for the Head Start Supplemental Assistance Program, which would bring total funding to $59 million.
- Investing nearly $36 million in available federal funds to increase the availability of high-quality child care programs.
Despite the proven benefits of high-quality early learning, too few Pennsylvania children have access to these programs.
Only about 1 in 6 of Pennsylvania’s 3- and 4-year-olds is enrolled in publicly funded, high-quality pre-k – a statistic that has remain unchanged in recent years due to sluggish state investments. If the governor’s proposal is enacted, access would increase to about 1 in 4 of the commonwealth’s 3- and 4-year-olds.
While this is a laudable first step, it still leaves a majority of young learners missing out on the once-in-a-lifetime benefits high-quality pre-k provides. Pennsylvania will need multiple years of similarly substantial investments to reach Gov. Wolf’s stated goal of making high-quality pre-k universally accessible.
Among children age 0-4 in need of child care, only about 1 in 13 benefit from high-quality care. The governor’s proposal means child care access will be improved, but the commonwealth needs more aggressive investments in the years ahead to increase child care access.
The principal partners of the Pre-K for PA campaign (listed below) issued the following statement in response the Gov. Wolf’s spending plan:
“Today is a good day for pre-k! Governor Wolf’s proposed $120 million investment in early learning programs is a solid first step toward increasing access to high-quality pre-k, and on behalf of the more than 11,000 supporters of the Pre-K for PA campaign, we thank the governor for his vision.
“Early learning investments pay off for the entire commonwealth. Based on economic models created by Ready Nation, the governor’s proposed $120 million increase in pre-k funding would have a short-term economic impact for the commonwealth of nearly $215 million and long-term economic benefits of about $840 million. Nearly 3,400 new jobs would be created as a result of this increased pre-k investment. Similarly, every dollar invested in high-quality child care generates up to $1.79 in short-term economic benefits and up to $7 in long-term benefits.
“As the budget process unfolds, legislative leaders who support pre-k can work with Gov. Wolf to ensure these proposed new investments happen in fiscal year 2015-16 and continue to grow in the years ahead.”
Pre-K for PA was launched in 2014 with the vision that every 3- and 4-year-old in Pennsylvania will have access to high-quality pre-k. This statewide coalition includes: Delaware Valley Association for the Education of Young Children; Economy League of Greater Philadelphia; Fight Crime: Invest in Kids; Mission: Readiness; Pennsylvania Association for the Education of Young Children; Pennsylvania Head Start Association; Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children; Pittsburgh Association for the Education of Young Children; Public Citizens for Children and Youth; and United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey.
Early Learning PA also was launched in 2014 with the vision that, by 2020, all Pennsylvania children will have access to high-quality early learning opportunities. Its founding members include: the Delaware Valley Association for the Education of Young Children; Fight Crime: Invest in Kids; Mission: Readiness; Pennsylvania Association for the Education of Young Children; Pennsylvania Child Care Association; Pennsylvania Head Start Association; Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children; Pittsburgh Association for the Education of Young Children; and Public Citizens for Children and Youth.
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