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For Immediate Release
February 7, 2012
Contact: Sally Kohr
(717) 787-4651

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Alloway Looks Forward to Careful Review of Governor's Budget Proposal

HARRISBURG – The Senate will carefully study the $27.14 billion General Fund budget for Fiscal Year 2012-13 unveiled by Governor Tom Corbett on Tuesday before a joint session of the General Assembly, according to Senator Richard Alloway II (R-33).

The Governor's budget proposal represents a $20 million reduction in spending from the current fiscal year. Overall, Governor Corbett is proposing to eliminate 33 appropriations, while reducing 164 line items.

The governor also announced several new programs that would help create jobs for state residents.

"The governor's focus on creating jobs is extremely important for our area," Alloway said. "I applaud the governor's efforts to reduce state spending and hold the line on taxes, and I look forward to working toward a final budget agreement that meets these goals."

Under the governor's proposed budget, every school district will be eligible to receive the same amount of funding as in Fiscal Year 2011-12.

The Governor is proposing a new $6.5 billion Student Achievement Education Block Grant Program for school districts. This new program will include the current Basic Education Subsidy ($5.35 billion), School Employees' Social Security ($504.8 million), Pupil Transportation ($542.3 million), and Non-Public Pupil Transportation ($77.7 million) to provide greater flexibility for education spending.

Special Education funding ($1.026 billion) is the same amount as in the current budget.

The Governor is proposing to level-fund the Department of Corrections, representing the first time in a decade that department's budget has not increased.

The Senate's review of the budget will formally begin on February 13 with three weeks of hearings conducted by the Senate Appropriations Committee. The state's current fiscal year ends on June 30.