Rendell Signs Budget
Governor Ed Rendell has signed a state budget that boosts education spending and borrows for energy, infrastructure and economic development projects.
"We did an awful lot in this session, an awful lot that will improve the lives of ordinary Pennsylvanians," Rendell said at an early evening bill signing ceremony Friday in the Capitol.
The nearly $28.3 billion in spending represents an increase of about $1 billion over the just-ended fiscal year, with more than 90 percent of that increase going to education and social services.
Public schools will get an unprecedented $274 million increase, or 5.5 percent, for operations and instruction. An additional $65 million, up 40 percent, will go to charter schools.
But even with the extra money for schools, Senator Joe Scarnati said, "There are no new taxes and there are no increases in taxes. It continues a major phase out in cuts in the job creation taxes – almost a quarter billion dollars in tax cuts for our job creators."
"We have limited the growth in spending," Scarnati added, "and that's extremely important because as we continue through this declining revenue period that the whole nation is in we have to make sure that when we get to next July we're not in a position where we have to raise taxes and we find lack of revenue for essential state programs."
Rendell called it "a very good budget, a great budget indeed. I'm pleased to sign it."
"We did an awful lot in this session, an awful lot that will improve the lives of ordinary Pennsylvanians," Rendell said at an early evening bill signing ceremony Friday in the Capitol.
The nearly $28.3 billion in spending represents an increase of about $1 billion over the just-ended fiscal year, with more than 90 percent of that increase going to education and social services.
Public schools will get an unprecedented $274 million increase, or 5.5 percent, for operations and instruction. An additional $65 million, up 40 percent, will go to charter schools.
But even with the extra money for schools, Senator Joe Scarnati said, "There are no new taxes and there are no increases in taxes. It continues a major phase out in cuts in the job creation taxes – almost a quarter billion dollars in tax cuts for our job creators."
"We have limited the growth in spending," Scarnati added, "and that's extremely important because as we continue through this declining revenue period that the whole nation is in we have to make sure that when we get to next July we're not in a position where we have to raise taxes and we find lack of revenue for essential state programs."
Rendell called it "a very good budget, a great budget indeed. I'm pleased to sign it."
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