Following the governor’s decision to end the 266-day budget impasse Wednesday, school officials from Schuylkill County expressed relief.
“Mahanoy Area didn’t have to borrow money, but we would have run out of money in late April or early May. We would have had to do something,” Jack J. Hurst, Mahanoy Area’s business administrator, said.
Hurst and Stephen C. Curran, Pottsville Area’s business manager, were among school district officials from across the state who gathered in Harrisburg on Wednesday to take a stand on the matter. They attended a press conference organized by the PA Association of School Business Officials which was held at the Capitol Rotunda on Wednesday morning, an effort to urge Governor Wolf to sign the budget bill to allow schools to remain open and avoid increased costs and financial chaos.
“It was a great experience. I was there just to observe. I did not speak today. But I heard the message from the people who spoke. Schools are in trouble cash-wise and something needed to be done. The stalemate wasn’t affecting the governor or the legislature. It was affecting our children. And that’s what we were there to say. That’s what schools are here for,” Hurst said.
Hurst said in the 2014-15 school year, Mahanoy Area received $7,221,663 in state subsidy. Hurst was not sure Wednesday how much Mahanoy Area would receive for 2015-16, but said in January the district got $3,269,418.
Curran said in the 2014-15 school year, Pottsville Area received $12,976,011 in state subsidy. Curran was not sure Wednesday how much Pottsville Area would receive for 2015-16, but said in January the district got $5,655,732.
“While the governor is allowing the bill to become law, he vetoed the fiscal code bill with all the formulas. So the new money, that additional $150 million in basic education funding, we don’t know how it’s going to be driven out,” Curran said.
Local legislators also expressed their relief Wednesday, following the governor’s announcement.
“School districts, vital agriculture programs, hospitals and counties can breathe a collective sigh of relief with today’s news that the governor will allow the state budget to automatically become law on March 27. Most importantly, this final budget does not increase taxes on Pennsylvanians, which has been the overwhelming concern of residents from Berks and Schuylkill Counties. While there are some loose ends to finalize, including the governor’s veto of reimbursement for school district construction, this is genuine bipartisan cooperation,” state Sen. David G. Argall, R-29, said.
“Today, I am pleased that our governor finally realized that he can’t spend more than what we have. I’m also glad he’s listened to the people of Pennsylvania who have repeatedly said they cannot afford his massive tax increases. The governor could’ve done what he did today last summer and saved a lot of needless suffering within the education, agriculture and correction communities. I am hopeful that he’s learned how the process works, and we will be able to complete the 2016-17 in a reasonable time frame, because this nine-month budget impasse is unacceptable on every level,” state Rep. Jerry Knowles, R-124, said.
“I’m glad the governor has finally become reasonable about the 2015-16 spending plan. The money will now be able to flow to school districts and colleges, including Penn State, as well as important corrections and agriculture line items, all without broad-based tax increases. I continue to be a strong supporter of our education system, as well as our property taxpayers, and the governor’s change of direction today is good for everyone,” state Rep. Mike Tobash, R-125, said.
“The problem we now face is the 2016-17 state budget. We should work together to get that wrapped up as quickly as possible, while understanding that costs continue to increase. Our biggest cost driver continues to be our public pension system” Tobash said.
“The good news is the governor’s action today releases education funding, allowing our schools to complete the school year. But I agree with the governor that this is a bad budget for Pennsylvania,” state Rep. Neal Goodman, D-123, said Wednesday.
“The Republican budget continues to underfund our schools, which, as their budgets have done the past five years, will force local property taxes to go up again. That is what Democrats have been fighting against during the impasse. It also makes a fifth year in a row of unbalanced Republican budgets, essentially ignoring Standard and Poor’s warnings of yet another credit downgrade if we continue down this path. Now that the 2015-16 budget is done, I hope we can do better for 2016-17,” Goodman said.
Republican Party of Pennsylvania Chairman Rob Gleason also released a statement following the announcement Wednesday: “Finally, Tom Wolf has given up playing his nine month long political game. Tom Wolf had publicly said he would veto this latest budget plan, which brought outrage throughout the Commonwealth. Pennsylvanians watched their governor move to shut down their schools and social services because the citizens of the Commonwealth don’t want his massive tax hikes. Gov. Tom Wolf’s budget crisis has resulted in shelters closing, employee layoffs and economic uncertainty for millions of Pennsylvania families. While Tom Wolf will continue to push for higher taxes, Republicans are ready to keep standing up for taxpayers and their families. In the face of the most liberal governor in America, Republicans stood up and fought for fiscal commonsense in Pennsylvania. Because of Republicans, Pennsylvania will not be subjected to the complete draconian cuts to their family budgets that would have occurred under Tom Wolf’s original budget.”