Details on State Budget

Details of the 2008-09 state budget signed by Governor Ed Rendell on Friday.

BUDGET

• Nearly $28.3 billion for fiscal year 2008-09, which started Tuesday.

• $1 billion increase (4 percent) over last year's approved spending; $72.4 million less than Rendell's original proposal.

• Does not require any broad-based tax or fee increases; does not dip into state's budget reserve (The Rainy Day Fund).

• Uses more than $500 million in one-time sources to prop up flagging revenue.

SPENDING

• $274 million increase (5.5 percent) for public schools; each district gets at least 3 percent more; Bradford Area School District gets 6 percent

• $65 million increase (40 percent) for charter schools.

• $633 million increase (6.6 percent) for the Department of Public Welfare, including health care for the poor, families with children and services for the mentally retarded and disabled.

• Nearly $50 million increase (5 percent) for debt payments.

• $90.6 million cut (20 percent) in state contribution to school employee pension fund.

• $45 million cut (50 percent) in program to buy laptop computers for high school classrooms.

BORROWING

• $800 million, repaid from slot-machine gambling revenues, for dams and water and sewer systems over two years.

• $500 million, repaid from electric utility gross receipts tax revenue, for alternative energy projects over two years.

• $800 million, repaid from general tax revenues, for civic redevelopment projects over four years.

• $350 million, repaid from motorist fees and taxes, to fix about 400 of the state's most dangerous bridges.

• $15 million, repaid from motorist fees and taxes, to improve airports and railways.

• $400 million, repaid from general tax revenues, to improve water and sewer systems (must be approved by voters).

Sources: Governor's Office, Senate Republicans, House Democrats