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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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CONTACT: Barbara Fellencer Phone: 717-772-3353 Email: bfellenc@pahouse.net
Johnna A. Pro
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State Rep. Dwight Evans |
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Appropriations Chairman Dwight Evans
says 2007/08 Budget Invests
in People and Programs in Pennsylvania
HARRISBURG, July 16 – The state’s 2007/08 fiscal plan and related legislation will pour millions of dollars into communities statewide, money that will offset a transit crisis throughout the state; spur major economic projects; help stabilize the school district budgets and fund social, welfare and cultural programs.
“The fight over the budget was about philosophy, but if we as Democrats don’t stand up for people and for programs, then no one will,:” said Dwight Evans, chairman of the House Appropriations Committee and the man credited with driving the budget process through a 16-day stalemate that left nearly 25,000 state workers off the job for one day.
“I said from the beginning, that we would not do this budget without fixing transit and we did fix transit. What’s more, we’re going to fix our roads and bridges; invest in education and economic development; send millions more to our school districts and, most importantly, provide, vital new dollars to our human service programs that help our neediest citizens. This is the best investment budget I’ve seen in 27 years.”
Evans credited the Democratic house members for their determinate during the course of the budget dispute. Lawmakers passed a $27.16 billion general fund spending plan that does not increase or add any taxes. Spending increases in the budget by just 3.2 percent.
“The members of the caucus, and especially our freshmen, showed real leadership throughout a process that was tumultuous at times,” Evans said. “Their work has led to significant funding that will be felt by all Pennsylvanians. I’m very pleased about what we were able to accomplish.”
The centerpiece of the 2007/08 budget package was the transportation plan, a separate piece of legislation, which over the next 10 years will drive an average of $946 million in new money to transit agencies and to maintenance programs for roads and bridges statewide.
Transit agencies statewide will receive an additional $300 million in the 2007/08 budget year; maintenance program for fixing crumbling roads and falling bridges will be $450 million in 2007/08.
The state’s 501 school districts all will see increases in funding. Statewide, basic education funding will grow from 4.78 million to $4.95 million, an increase of $166.7 million. Special education programs will see $27.6 million more this year.
The increased money will go a long way toward helping school districts make new investments in early childhood education; expand programs at the elementary level; and put computers in the hands of thousands more middle and high school students.
Passed along with the budget package was the Gaming Economic Development Fund which was established in 2004. Up to $64 million from the fund will be used as part of the funding plan for the expansion of the Pennsylvania Convention Center and up to $7.5 million for a new hockey arena in Pittsburgh.
Other items of note in the budget are:
- A three percent increase in funding for community colleges;
- A three percent Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for all human service programs, the largest COLA in 15 years;
- New initiatives to expand the duties of certified nurses in underserved communities and mandates for health-care institutions to reduce hospital-acquired infections;
- Increases of two percent for the state-related universities
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For more information about the 2007/08 budget, visit www.hacd.net.
For more information about Dwight Evans, visit www.pahouse.com/evans