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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Harry Readshaw |
  
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Readshaw pleased with education funding in state budget
HARRISBURG, July 4 – State Rep. Harry Readshaw, D-Allegheny, said the $28.2 billion state budget passed by the House today is realistic in promoting energy independence and economic stimulus, and is especially positive in providing more equitable funding for education without increasing taxes.
Under the plan, which now goes to the governor for his signature, Pittsburgh schools will receive a 5.77 percent increase in general education funds, providing the district with $152.5 million reflecting a boost of $8.3 million.
The Baldwin-Whitehall School District gets an 8.7 percent increase in state funding with nearly $700,000 additional dollars, bringing basic education support to just under $8.6 million.
Brentwood Borough schools are targeted with a 6.45 percent increase for basic education, an additional $272,000 that brings the state total to $4.5 million.
The funding formula provides the Steel Valley School District with a 3.7 percent increase of $279,000 to bring the state's basic education funding to $7.9 million.
"The education funding is especially good news for taxpayers in Allegheny County, as well as students," Readshaw said. "It will help us to better ensure, without a tax increase, that they have the academic tools they need to work toward their best potential and, in turn, help Pennsylvania in a future in which the understanding, use and development of technology will be the key in being competitive in the world market."
Readshaw said the spending plan breaks new ground by providing a tax credit to help retain and recruit volunteer fire and rescue personnel by offering active volunteer first responders an income tax credit of up to $100.
"This is what I hope will be the first step in developing incentives to stem the loss of available active volunteers and ensure our communities are protected," said Readshaw. "Our volunteers are a godsend in protecting lives and property and they save taxpayers in small and medium-sized communities many millions of dollars over the struggle to maintain full-time paid services."
On a non-budget item, Readshaw was disappointed that the House did not get an opportunity to vote on a bill that would set reasonable standards for commercial dog-breeding operations. Opponents of the measure, at the insistence of a group of commercial dog-breeding businesses, loaded the bill up with so many amendments that logistically it to could not be passed in time before the General Assembly's summer recess.
"The standards would require basic, humane conditions for dogs from commercial breeders and help us weed out the puppy mills that result in a great deal of suffering for the dogs and increase the likelihood that the dogs will have chronic health problems," Readshaw said. "I'll be working to get this sorted out and a bill passed after we come back in September."
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