There’s a disagreement over whether Gov. Tom Corbett’s 2012-13 state budget proposal includes an increase or decrease in spending for public schools.
State Education Secretary Ronald Tomalis told the House Appropriations Committee that it essentially comes down to what gets counted.
He said the federal stimulus aid that propped up school spending over the past few years should not be counted. On the other hand, he said the state’s contribution for school employees’ pensions should. When viewed in that way, it represents a $338 million increase in state support, for a total of $9.3 billion.
But he failed to convince Democratic Appropriations Committee Chairman Joe Markosek, D-Allegheny.
Click here to read the full article published in The Patriot News, March 5, 2012.
