Budget Town Hall Meeting
Held by state Representatives:
Marc Gergely
Bill Kortz
Harry Readshaw
May 5, 2011
• Opening remarks
–
AGENDA
Reps. Marc Gergely and Bill Kortz
• State budget cuts and impacts
–
Reps. Marc Gergely, Bill Kortz, Harry Readshaw and Joe Markosek
• State budget cuts and S.B. 1 update
–
Sens. Jay Costa and Jim Brewster
• Remarks
–
Dr. Linda Croushore, Consortium for Public Education
• T.E.A.C.H. Remarks
–
Ryan Dunmire and Steve Singer, State and Local Teacher Union
• Remarks from local school districts
–
Dr. Timothy Gabauer – Superintendent of McKeesport
–
Dr. William Kinavey – Superintendent of Steel Valley
• Remarks from higher education advocates
–
Dr. Curtis Porter, Chancellor, Penn State Greater Allegheny
–
Mr. Paul Supowitz, Vice-Chancellor, Pitt Governmental Affairs
• Action Items – What you can do!
• Questions and answers from the public.
Drastic cuts to education
Gov. Corbett’s proposal slashes public
education funding.
• $1.1 billion cuts for Pre-K through 12th grade
• 9.5% cut for Basic Education (K-12)
• Eliminates funding:
– Accountability Block Grants
– Educational Assistance
– Charter School Reimbursement
Education cuts hit home
Cost of Gov. Corbett’s cuts to McKeesport
Area School District
• Potential layoffs of 96 employees, including 35
full-time teachers
• $126 total funding cut per MASD resident
• $1,013 total funding cut per student
Proposed cut per classroom
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Duquesne City SD
Clairton City SD
McKeesport Area SD
Steel Valley SD
South Allegheny SD
Bethel Park SD
North Allegheny SD
Mt Lebanon SD
Upper St. Clair SD
Fox Chapel Area SD
- $49,516
-$36,993
- $25,348
- $24,312
- $21,031
- $7,057
- $4,148
- $3,904
-$3,386
-$3,050
Source: Education Law Center of Pennsylvania
Corbett’s Education Grade: F+
• Support for public education:
• Overall level of state funding:
• Funding for schools in communities with
the neediest students and highest taxes:
• Smart investments to meet students needs
with real reforms and proven solutions:
• Support for greater parent and community
involvement in public schools:
Source: Education Law Center of Pennsylvania
C
F
F
F
C
Corbett makes false claims
Gov. Corbett falsely claims his cuts return
education funding to pre-stimulus levels
McKeesport Area School District
Corbett’s Proposal
$21.9 million
2008-09 Funding
$22.9 million
MASD cut is $1 million more than before
federal stimulus dollars.
Corbett makes false claims
Governor's cuts drop MASD to 2006-07 state
funding level
2011-12 (proposed)
2010-11
2009-10
2008-09
2007-08
2006-07
$21.9 million
$26.3 million
$26.0 million
$25.2 million
$23.5 million
$21.7 million
REVENUE GENERATING CONCEPTS
The following list of proposed revenue
streams would prevent the drastic education
cuts, layoffs, guaranteed tuition hikes and
guaranteed property tax hikes.
Revenue Generators
• Corbett refuses to tap potential revenue
streams.
• Revenue generators would prevent the
drastic cuts to education funding, layoffs,
guaranteed tuition hikes and guaranteed
property tax hikes.
Revenue Generators
• Everything should be on the table.
• Our children’s education and future
hang in the balance.
Revenue Generators
• 10% cut to all 3 branches of government and all
government agencies = $164 mil/yr
• Cut legislative slush funds = $100 mil/yr
• Close off the big tax loopholes = Total $900 mil/yr
• Halt the phase-out of the CSFT = $250 mil/yr
• New tax on political advertising = $300 mil/yr
• Small tax on the Marcellus Shale = $200 mil/yr
Revenue Generators
Grand total =
$1.91 BILLION/YEAR
Other revenue generators
More revenue sources to consider include:
• Smokeless tobacco and cigars tax = $60 mil/yr
• End vendor 1% sales tax discount = $70 mil/yr
• Re-appropriate gaming security fund surplus =
$20 mil
• Cut out duplicative programs, i.e. PICS system =
$6 mil/yr and others
Additional funding areas
• Liberty Loan Fund (new WAM
program for governor) = $2 bil/year
• Welfare increased $2.3 billion (26%)
• Corrections increased $186 mil (11%)
SENATE DEMOCRATIC LEADER
JAY COSTA
Budget and Senate Bill 1 Update
STATE SENATOR JIM BREWSTER
Budget and Senate Bill 1 Update
DR. LINDA CROUSHORE
Consortium for Public Education
T.E.A.C.H. GROUP
STEVE SINGER
RYAN DUNMIRE
STATE AND LOCAL TEACHER UNION
McKeesport School District
DR. TIMOTHY GABAUER
SUPERINTENDENT, MASD
BUDGET CUT: $4.38 MILLION
LAYOFFS:
96
Steel Valley School District
DR. WILLIAM KINAVEY
SUPERINTENDENT, SVHS
BUDGET CUT: $2 MILLION
LAYOFFS:
56
Higher Education Cuts
DR. CURTIS PORTER
CHANCELLOR, PSU OF GREATER ALLEGHENY
MR. PAUL SUPOWITZ
VICE-CHANCELLOR, PITT GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS
TAKE ACTION
• Get fired up and take action
• Your voice MUST be heard
• Pressure must be applied
Take Action
• WRITE Editorials to all local newspapers.
• TAKE packet with contact information.
• PHONE CALLS to voice your concern.
• SET UP AND VISIT representatives.
• CONTACT your friends and colleagues.
Take Action
• WRITE hard copy letters to Reps.
• PARTICIPATE in rallies and marches.
• CALL IN to talk radio and/or TV.
• VISIT Harrisburg and meet with Reps.
• REGISTER TO VOTE, and VOTE on
Election Day!
Take Action
We are fighting FOR
shared sacrifice and
AGAINST forced
sacrifice!
Take Action
We are fighting AGAINST:
Education funding cuts
Forced mergers/closings
Inequitable funding
Property tax increases
Tuition hikes
Take Action
We are fighting FOR our
children’s education and their
future.
Take Action
QUESTIONS?
Reps. Marc Gergely, Bill Kortz, Harry Readshaw
THANK YOU