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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Dan Surra |
  
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Surra says budget keeps Pa. moving forward
HARRISBURG, July 4 – A $28.2 billion budget the General Assembly is expected to pass later this evening or tomorrow would fund essential education, energy and economic development efforts in Pennsylvania without raising taxes, said state Rep. Dan Surra, D-Elk Clearfield.
"The goal of this budget was to maintain, and even improve on, a variety of initiatives that have allowed Pennsylvania to continue moving forward even during the national economic downturn," he said. "In addition to accelerating our commitment to basic and higher education, we are also putting in place an energy strategy that will help Pennsylvania reduce its dependence on foreign oil and save businesses and consumers money. And we're continuing our investments in the economic development and infrastructure improvement projects that have been so important to this region and the rest of the state during the past few years.
"Unlike many states that have been forced to cut billions in important programs, or raise taxes, Pennsylvania will continue to move forward without doing either," he said.
Surra said state funding for local schools in his legislative district, which include DuBois Area, St. Marys Area, Johnsonburg Area and Ridgway Area, will increase by a total of nearly $978,000. The budget also includes increases in state special education funding, and more money for State System of Higher Education universities and community colleges. The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency will get a 5.5 percent increase to help more students pay for college.
"We continue to move in a direction that places more of the burden for funding education on the state and less on local property tax payers," Surra said. "We still have a way to go, but if we want to sustain and increase the property tax relief that will be delivered this summer to all Pennsylvania homeowners, we have to couple that effort with a significant and meaningful education funding commitment from the state."
Surra said other 2008-09 budget highlights include:
-- An economic stimulus package that includes funding for water and sewer improvements statewide, local development projects designed to attract economic activity, jobs and people to communities across the state, money to repair more than 400 of the state's worst bridges, and funding for critical airport and rail improvements. The state investments will attract billions in private capital for revitalization projects.
-- An energy independence strategy that will provide state funding over the next several years to help consumers and businesses conserve energy and save money, as well as investments in alternative and clean energy production here in Pennsylvania so the state can reduce its reliance on foreign oil and boost its own energy industries and jobs.
More details on the 2008-09 state budget are available at www.pahouse.com.
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