Local school districts eye state budget proposals

Two different state budgets were adopted Monday, but they presented different funding options for education.

To some Centre County school districts, though they’d like the most they can get from the state, they’re also eager for either budget plan to be passed.

The Senate adopted a budget that would increase basic education funding by $350 million, while the House adopted a budget that put less into public education.

According to a report from the Campaign for Fair Education Funding, advocates urged lawmakers Tuesday during a press conference in Harrisburg to reject the alternative budget proposal “offered by House Republicans because it does not live up to the agreed-upon framework for basic education and comes up short $200 million for public schools.”

The state is 162 days into the budget impasse.

“At this stage, I think most would agree that getting a passed budget would be a benefit,” Bellefonte Area Director of Fiscal Affairs Ken Bean said.

Bean said the district “will get less state subsidy money if the house budget is passed,” but the district did not budget “much of an increase so any amount we might get would be appreciated and not negatively affect us budget-wise.”

According to a report from state Auditor General Eugene DePasquale, schools commonwealthwide have already started borrowing more than $400 million due to the budget impasse.

Neither State College Area business manager Randy Brown nor Penns Valley business manager Jef Wall knows how the possible lesser education funding proposals would affect their districts, but both said they’re studying education funding trends.

“Of course any school district would like to see an increase in state funding to help lessen the burden on the local taxpayer,” Wall said.

Bald Eagle Area administration did not respond to request for comment.

This story was originally published December 9, 2015 at 8:11 PM with the headline "Local school districts eye state budget proposals."