Senate Approves $27 Billion State Budget for FY 2007-08

Cuts $344 million from Governor's request, protects vital programs

The state Senate today approved a general fund budget for fiscal year 2007-08 that slices $344 million in spending requested by the Governor, while restoring funding that he reduced or eliminated for vital community, agricultural and human services programs, according to Senator Bob Robbins (R-50).

The $27 billion budget detailed in House Bill 1286 includes a modest 2.69 percent increase ($709 million) in spending over the current fiscal year without the seven new or increased taxes proposed by the Governor.

HB 1286 meets four objectives set by Senate Republicans for the budget: that it consider spending over a two-year period; that it keeps spending within limits; that it includes no new taxes; and, that it be passed on time.

"This is a fiscally responsible budget that received strong bipartisan support in the Senate. It provides for the services and programs essential for the operations and services provided by the Commonwealth while living within our means and without increasing the burden on Pennsylvania taxpayers," Senator Robbins said.

HB 1286, as amended by the Senate Appropriations Committee prior to the final Senate vote, restores $105.7 million in funding that Governor Rendell slashing from a variety of programs and services in his proposed budget.

"The Governor reduced or eliminated funding for programs such as agricultural assistance, Science in Motion, hospital-based burn centers and the New Choices/New Options Program for women in need of increasing their job skills. There is no way that the General Assembly would ever condone nor allow those cuts to occur," Senator Robbins said.

HB 1286 includes a 3.5 percent increase ($166.6 million) for basic education subsidies for a proposed total of $4.95 billion in FY 07-08. Special Education funding would increase by $29.4 million (3 percent) for a proposed total of just over $1 billion in FY 07-08.

State System of Higher Education universities will see a 3.5 percent ($16.4 million) increase for a proposed total of $483.9 million. Community colleges would see a $9.2 million (3.5 percent) increase to $273.8 million, while Pennsylvania's state-related universities would receive an additional 2 percent each: Penn State, $5.1 million ($263.5 million total); University of Pittsburgh, $3.2 million ($164.3 million total); Temple University, $3.3 million ($172.4 million total); and, Lincoln University, $270,000 ($13.7 million total).

Contact:

Michael Hengst
(717) 787-1322