Corbett announces more budget cuts, including another 5% for state-related universities
Meanwhile, the Republicans have delayed any natural gas extraction fee revenue for THREE years and have refused to act upon Corbett's own commission recommendations for raising needed funding for road and bridge repairs.
Available funding for bridges will be dramatically cut over the few years if the Legislature doesn't act, and bridge needs already greatly outpace funding. Look under an old bridge in your area - it is scary.
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/breaking/s_775016.html
Excerpts:
"Already coping with budget cuts this fiscal year, most state agencies will have to figure how to make do with an average of 3 percent less after Republican Gov. Tom Corbett on Wednesday froze $160 million in state spending. While 3 percent is the average amount frozen, the four state-related universities -- the University of Pittsburgh, Penn State, Temple and Lincoln -- face 5 percent freezes. That's on top of 19 percent budget cuts made in July.
A spokesman for House Democrats called the budget freezes unnecessary. "The governor cut jobs, education and health care in 2011 while leaving more than half a billion surplus dollars untouched," said Bill Patton, press secretary for House Minority Leader Frank Dermody, D-Oakmont. "That money is still in the state's bank account, waiting, and revenue collections this year are more than 3 percent ahead of last year's pace.
"Only this governor would look at these fiscal facts and impose still more painful cuts to public safety, higher education and services to older residents and people with disabilities. Gov. Corbett's reckless budget cuts last year resulted in higher local taxes, and these new cuts will put people in danger." As part of the freeze, Penn State will receive $11.4 million less than its initial appropriation for this academic year."
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One commenter said he believes Corbett set up his budget to fail. He predicted that an unusually high percentage of state revenues would be received in the first few months, so he could then claim that revenues are way behind forecasts, and could justify more cuts. Remember, Corbett tried to cut all state funding to public universities by 50% and he was disappointed when the cut amounted to only 20%.
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Here's more info on the specific budget cuts:
http://policypathwayspa.blogspot.com/2012/01/its-freezing-in-pennsylvania-budget.html
