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For Immediate Release Ending days of negotiations, the Senate
approved the final compromise budget for Fiscal Year 2007-08
with expectations that Governor Ed Rendell will sign it into
law later today (Monday, July 16), according to Senator Don
White, R-41st District. The $27.162 billion spending plan represents
a 3.2 percent increase over the final 2006-07 budget. In
addition, $317.5 million of funding for mass transit was
moved into a dedicated fund. If this amount is in the
spending level, the total is $27.480 billion, which
represents a growth rate of 4.4 percent over the final
2006-07 budget. "This budget is a win-win for the taxpayers
of Pennsylvania. All seven of the Governor's proposed tax
increases would have cost nearly $800 annually for each
Pennsylvania family of four. Thanks to the efforts of
Republican leaders, those tax increases are dead. Moreover,
this budget places the Commonwealth in a very good position
as it saves $300 million in excess revenue to avoid tax
increases in next year's budget as well," Senator White
said. "While I'm pleased with the overall budget,
I am certainly disappointed with the arduous process it took
to come to an agreement" Senator White said. "It should
never have dragged on this long and undoubtedly the
Governor's furloughing of tens of thousands of state workers
was the darkest point in this entire process. Governor
Rendell was wrong to enact those furloughs." While the budget averts the need for tax
increases, it also adequately funds many of the state
programs important to the citizens of the Commonwealth, such
as New Choices/New Options, Civil Air Patrol and the
Disabled American Veterans Transportation which Governor
Rendell proposed cutting. The budget increases the Education
Improvement Tax Credit program from $59 million to $75
million. The program enables parents to choose the best
educational setting for their children and helps local
businesses to contribute to programs they believe in and
receive a tax credit in return. State System of Higher Education
universities will see a 3.5 percent ($16.4 million) increase
for a proposed total of $483.9 million. Contact: Joe Pittman | |||
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