Budget Town Hall Meeting

Held by state Representatives:Marc Gergely

Bill KortzHarry Readshaw

May 5, 2011

AGENDA• Opening remarks

– 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 - $49,516• Clairton City SD -$36,993• McKeesport Area SD - $25,348• Steel Valley SD - $24,312• South Allegheny SD - $21,031• Bethel Park SD - $7,057• North Allegheny SD - $4,148• Mt Lebanon SD - $3,904• Upper St. Clair SD -$3,386• Fox Chapel Area SD -$3,050

Source: Education Law Center of Pennsylvania

Corbett’s Education Grade: F+• Support for public education: C• Overall level of state funding: F• Funding for schools in communities with

the neediest students and highest taxes: F• Smart investments to meet students needs

with real reforms and proven solutions: F• Support for greater parent and community involvement

in public schools: C

Source: Education Law Center of Pennsylvania

Corbett makes false claimsGov. Corbett falsely claims his cuts return education funding to pre-stimulus levels

McKeesport Area School District

Corbett’s Proposal 2008-09 Funding$21.9 million $22.9 million

MASD cut is $1 million more than before federal stimulus dollars.

Corbett makes false claimsGovernor's cuts drop MASD to 2006-07 state funding level

2011-12 (proposed) $21.9 million 2010-11 $26.3 million2009-10 $26.0 million 2008-09 $25.2 million2007-08 $23.5 million 2006-07 $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 generatorsMore 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 LEADERJAY COSTA

Budget and Senate Bill 1 Update

STATE SENATOR JIM BREWSTER

Budget and Senate Bill 1 Update

DR. LINDA CROUSHORE

Consortium for Public Education

STEVE SINGER

RYAN DUNMIRE

STATE AND LOCAL TEACHER UNION

T.E.A.C.H. GROUP

DR. TIMOTHY GABAUERSUPERINTENDENT, MASD

BUDGET CUT: $4.38 MILLION

LAYOFFS: 96

McKeesport School District

DR. WILLIAM KINAVEYSUPERINTENDENT, SVHS

BUDGET CUT: $2 MILLION

LAYOFFS: 56

Steel Valley School District

DR. CURTIS PORTERCHANCELLOR, PSU OF GREATER ALLEGHENY

MR. PAUL SUPOWITZVICE-CHANCELLOR, PITT GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS

Higher Education Cuts

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!

We are fighting FOR shared sacrifice and

AGAINST forced sacrifice!

Take Action

We are fighting AGAINST:Education funding cutsForced mergers/closingsInequitable fundingProperty tax increasesTuition hikes

Take Action

We are fighting FOR our children’s education and their

future.

Take Action

QUESTIONS?

Take Action

THANK YOU

Reps. Marc Gergely, Bill Kortz, Harry Readshaw