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HARRISBURG, July 2, 2006 - In response to passage of the 2006-2007
budget, state Sen. J. Barry Stout voiced strong support for its strategic
investments in Pennsylvania’s public schools.
“This budget demonstrates our commitment to the children of Pennsylvania and
the future of our commonwealth,” said Stout
(D-Washington/Greene/Beaver/Allegheny/Westmoreland). “The state is stepping
up to the plate and providing a nearly 6 percent increase in the basic
education subsidy to school districts.”
Under this year’s budget, the state basic education subsidy would include a
5.87 percent increase or $265 million over last year’s budget. Locally,
several Washington county districts would receive even more due to a
foundation supplement. This supplement was initiated in last year’s state
budget, and it would provide additional funding to those school districts
that spend less than $9,030 per student.
Other important initiatives in this year’s budget include the following:
*Cover All Kids - $14.6 million program to provide health coverage to 15,000
children who are presently uninsured
*Libraries - $75.5 million in funding for public libraries, the highest
level in history
*Business Tax Cuts - higher cap on the net operating loss limit, increased
research and development tax credit, continued phase-out of the capital
stock and franchise tax, shift toward a greater emphasis on sales in
calculating a corporation’s tax liability
*No new state taxes or tax increases.
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