Robbins: Senate to Review Proposed State Budget

Harrisburg – Today Governor Rendell presented his 2005-2006 Budget. "The State Senate will thoroughly review the Governor's proposed $23.85 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2005-06 over the next few weeks before it comes to the floor for a vote," Senator Bob Robbins (R-50) said.

The budget proposal includes an increase of $815 million (3.5 percent) in spending, with about three-quarters of the increase ($612 million) earmarked for programs within the Department of Public Welfare (DPW).

"It's encouraging that the Governor did not attempt to raise taxes in this budget. But it does include a lot of spending that we'll have to take a close look at," said Robbins.

In addition to the increase in DPW spending, the Governor is also proposing modest increases in public education funding and a substantial change in the way the state allocates resources from its portion of the National Tobacco Settlement.

The Tobacco Settlement Fund, created in 2001 through a bipartisan two-year effort, would undergo a substantial change under the Governor's proposal. In effect, the administration wants to make the Tobacco Fund a part of each budget beginning with 2005-06, which would allow programs funded by Tobacco Settlement money to be changed annually.

Basic education and special education will see increases in state funding, with an additional $109 million (2.5 percent) for basic education for a total of $4.47 billion and an additional $23.2 million (2.5 percent) for special education for a total of $952.4 million. The Accountability Block Grant program is slated to retain its current funding level of $200 million.

The budget proposal also includes a 10 percent increase ($22.8 million) for community colleges for a total of $249 million. Overall, direct funding for the State System of Higher Education would increase by $9.75 million (2.2 percent) to a total of $443.1 million. PHEAA changes include efforts to promote nursing education to address the ongoing need for nurses across the Commonwealth. The budget proposal includes an additional $9 million in state funding for increases in PHEAA grants. "While I am pleased that the Governor highlighted higher education with increased funding, I was disappointed that he provided no funding for the important Basic/Higher Education Science Technology Partnership Program. This important program provides rural schools access to high tech science equipment," said Robbins.

The Senate Appropriations Committee will review the Governor's proposals in depth during its annual series of budget hearings, set for the weeks of February 28 and March 7.

CONTACT: Mike Hengst (717) 787-1322