Even with state subsidy, Pennsylvania school budgets facing cuts
Even though the new state budget would increase the main public-education subsidy, the funding would not protect schools from making cuts next year, some school leaders say.
Most have already had to reduce staff and make other cuts to balance their budgets for next year, which had to be passed by June 30. The large majority are also raising taxes, many by more than the rate of inflation.
Cuts that were made to Gov. Rendell's proposed budget in the final version that passed Wednesday "just whittle more away from what was a bad scenario to start with," said Joseph Bruni, the superintendent in Delaware County's William Penn School District, which has already cut 28 teaching jobs and three administrative staff posts. "It just makes things worse in a budget year that is already difficult."
Philadelphia will get about $35 million less than it had planned on, said Michael Masch, the district's chief business officer. Even with a total budget of $3.2 billion, "that's a large enough reduction that will hurt somewhat," he said, but it will be several months before the district makes a final decision on what changes it will need to
Most have already had to reduce staff and make other cuts to balance their budgets for next year, which had to be passed by June 30. The large majority are also raising taxes, many by more than the rate of inflation.
Cuts that were made to Gov. Rendell's proposed budget in the final version that passed Wednesday "just whittle more away from what was a bad scenario to start with," said Joseph Bruni, the superintendent in Delaware County's William Penn School District, which has already cut 28 teaching jobs and three administrative staff posts. "It just makes things worse in a budget year that is already difficult."
Philadelphia will get about $35 million less than it had planned on, said Michael Masch, the district's chief business officer. Even with a total budget of $3.2 billion, "that's a large enough reduction that will hurt somewhat," he said, but it will be several months before the district makes a final decision on what changes it will need to
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Even with state subsidy, Pennsylvania school budgets facing cuts
- Even though the new state budget would increase the main public-education subsidy, the funding would not protect schools from making cuts next year, some school leaders say.
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