Activists Mobilize for Corbett's Latest Budget Cuts (several new articles)

[JPZenger]

5. More details on cuts from Phila. Inquirer

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/politics/state/20120207_Steep_cuts__no_tax_hikes_in_Corbetts__27_1B_budget.html

excerpts:

"...there would be cuts to pre-K and Head Start funding. Corbett also proposed slicing $100 million in accountability block grants to schools, which would translate into a $21.6 millon cut for the Philadelphia School District.

Corbett has said he has had to make difficult fiscal decisions in the face of a lackluster economy, dwindling state revenues and continuing deficits. This fiscal year, the governor and the legislature enacted a budget that decreased spending by 3 percent, primarily by slashing aid for public schools and universities by more than $1 billion and keeping a lid on the rising cost of social and human services.

Higher education appears to be taking the biggest hit, with funding being axed for three of the four state-related universities. Temple University's subsidy would be $98 million, down from nearly $140 million this fiscal year, or a 30 percent decrease; Penn State's funding would dwindle to $163 million from $227 million, a 28 percent decrease; and the University of Pittsburgh, from $136 million to $95 million, a 30 percent decrease.

The 14 universities in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, including West Chester and Cheyney, would see their funding cut from $412 million to $330 million, a 20 percent decrease."