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Corbett Unveils $28.4 Billion Budget |
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Today, in front of a joint session of the PA House and Senate, Governor Corbett proposed the biggest budget increase of his tenure - $679 million - increasing the state's general fund to $28.4 billion.
Highlights of Corbett's speech were:
- Educational funding - increase of $6.4 million for early childhood education, including 5.1% increase to Head Start supplemental assistance and 5.4% increase to Pre-K Counts ;
- Privatizing state liquor stores - giving the money to education;
- State pension reform - create a new 401K style system;
- Transportation funding - reduce flat gas tax and lifting oil company franchise cap;
- Medicare/Medicaid - not supporting the expansion;
- State lottery - privatize to save administrative cost and increase revenue to add $50 million to senior services;
- Agriculture - level funding of $17 million for the State Food Purchasing Program (SFPP);
- Public safety - adding more state troopers and continue justice reinvestment program;
- Mental Health - $27 million increase to address waiting list.
Corbett did not mention anything specific to the Department of Community and Economic Development. Outside of mental health services and rejection of Medicaid expansion, the Governor did not expand on other items within the Department of Public Welfare.
CAAP will be attending individual department budget briefings later today and coordinating with other organizations to further analyze Corbett's proposed budget. CAAP Update will issue further special editions as information unfolds.
Click here to access the Governor's 2013-14 proposed budget. |
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Check out information for the six general sessions and 29 workshops being offered in the new two day format.
Join your colleagues in Harrisburg on April 17 and 18 to increase your professional development and celebrate the 20 individuals that will receive awards during the 16th annual CAAP Self-Sufficiency Awards.
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