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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. James Roebuck |
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House Education Committee approves 2009-10 education budget bill
HARRISBURG, June 3 – The state House Education Committee has approved 2009-10 state education budget legislation sponsored by state Rep. James Roebuck, D-Phila.
House Bill 1493 represents Gov. Ed Rendell's 2009-10 state education budget proposal for Pennsylvania's 501 school districts. The legislation would increase basic education funding by $418 million as part of the second year of a six-year, $2.6 billion proposed state plan to improve funding adequacy and equity across school districts to increase student achievement.
Roebuck said he sponsored the legislation because it would help Pennsylvania school districts avoid choosing between increasing school property taxes or slashing important programs or implementing layoffs during the economic downturn.
"This year presents us all with an extremely difficult time to try and pass a state budget that continues to meet Pennsylvania current and future needs," Roebuck said. "People are struggling to pay their bills, just like school districts are struggling to afford providing a quality education without increasing property taxes. I applaud my colleagues on the Education Committee for recognizing the state's responsibility to continue the six-year plan to increase school district funding, despite – and especially considering -- Pennsylvania's harsh economic climate."
Under the bill, each school district would receive a minimum 2 percent increase over its 2008-09 basic education funding amount. If a school district needs to increase its local revenues in order to maintain existing programs that are proven to improve student achievement, H.B. 1493 would allow the district to request a waiver from the Pennsylvania Department of Education for 25 percent of the increased funding that exceeds inflation. The rest of the necessary revenue increase beyond inflation would require local voter approval through a referendum. This provision would expire Dec. 31, 2010.
House Bill 1493 awaits consideration by the full House.
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