Rendell Using Scare Tactics on Education Funding
by Ron Marsico
State Representative (R-Lower Paxton)
Once again, the governor is touring the state and trying to scare the public into accepting something that will penalize them down the road. The scary part is actually the hole Governor Rendell's education budget bill will put us in long after he is out of office.
The governor wants to continue the irrational spending spree that has been the hallmark of his administration by misrepresenting legislation and revenue numbers in an effort to sell his bloated, budget bill to school districts.
Rendell claims his own budget proposal, which relies on an increase in the Personal Income Tax, makes investments and uses federal stimulus funds for education in an effort to contribute to long-term economic development.
House Republicans are working on a budget bill that, unlike the governor's proposal, adequately funds education without a tax increase at the state or local level and significantly reduces the amount of money sent to the School District of Philadelphia. It will level-fund the Basic Education Subsidy and maintain the Special Education Subsidy. In combination with the federal stimulus package, schools around the state will receive an overall increase in appropriation over last year.
Under the House Republican budget proposal, funding for Dauphin County schools will increase as follows:
Central Dauphin School District +14.42%
Lower Dauphin School District +9.93%
Rendell's use of federal stimulus dollars for education places us on the edge of a fiscally disastrous funding cliff that we will step off in two years when the source of the dollars dries up.
This stimulus is a one-time revenue source that should not be used for programs we cannot maintain. We will be putting our next governor in a situation where a tax hike will be the only way out of the hole Governor Rendell dug for him.
Contact Information
District Office:
4401 Linglestown Road, Suite B
Harrisburg, PA 17112
Phone: 717-652-3721
Fax: 717-652-6276 Harrisburg Office:
218 Ryan Office Building
Harrisburg, PA 17120
Phone: 717-783-2014
Fax: 717-705-2010