Pennsylvania, for the second year in a row, signed its budget on time. Should residents celebrate the timeliness or mourn the fact that little deliberation occurred? Last year, $1 BILLION was slashed from public education. This year's budget fails to restore any of the $1 billion. So, let us examine what that means for Pennsylvania residents.
Here are recent headlines from local newspapers...
July 2, 2012:
Somerset Daily American, "Berlin School Board raises taxes"
Harrisburg Patriot-News, "Central Dauphin School District officials expect more tax hikes in coming years"
Reading Eagle, "In Berks County, all but three Berks County school districts are raising taxes"
June 29, 2012:
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, "North Allegheny School Board approves tax hike"
Scranton Times Tribune, "Riverside School District cuts eight teachers"
Scranton Times Tribune, "Laurel Highlands School Board OKs tax hike, layoffs"
Wilkes-Barre Times Leader, "Wilkes-Barre Area School District passes final fiscal plan with tax hike"
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, "Greensburg Salem school board raises tax increase to most allowed by law"
Beaver County Times, "Moon Area School District approves 52 support staff layoffs"
June 28, 2012:
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, "Despite tearful pleas, Armstrong School Board votes to close schools"
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, "West Mifflin Area school board continues debate on furloughs, school closing proposed in $43.7 million spending plan"
Allentown Morning Call, "Easton Area School Board announces teacher layoff list"
Shall I go on?
These cuts have already cost the State of Pennsylvania more than 11,000 jobs! More taxes and higher unemployment....not to mention a new generation of American workers missing out on quality education. That's what cuts to a state's education budget will do to a local economy.
Learn more on this month's Career Talk on KQV when we discuss the matter with PA State Representative Dan Deasy. Also, follow it all on Facebook...just like 'Career Talk on KQV.'
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