No-Brainer+-+Use+Surplus+State+Funds+For+Our+Schools

=By Patriot-News Editorial Board= =//Published in The Patriot News//= =//5/15/11//= = = = = =Here’s two words that haven’t been heard in the state Capitol in awhile: surplus revenue.= = = =While every lawmaker has an agenda for what to do with the unexpected $500 million in newfound cash, let’s remember that the public has views, too.= =In case anyone at the Capitol forgot, the governor cut $4 billion out of the state budget to close the expected deficit. Most of that came out of education.= =Thousands have rallied at the Capitol in frustration. This isn’t about saving teachers’ unions. Middle class people understand that when their local school district budget goes down by several million dollars, that means their property taxes are going up to compensate.= =The middle class is not cheering at the prospect of more money coming out of their pockets at the same time their kids are in bigger classes with fewer programs.= =The remedy is simple: A good chunk of that newfound surplus should go to education. It is what Pennsylvanians overwhelmingly want. A March Franklin & Marshall College poll showed clearly that voters rank cutting K-12 education funding dead last on ways to close the budget gap. The findings show that 81 percent are opposed to K-12 education cuts.= =The reality of the proposed cuts is already playing out with disastrous consequences. Blaming the reduced state funding, the Harrisburg School District announced it will go from full-day to half-day kindergarten next year. This is a terrible outcome because early childhood education is one of the best predictors of academic success throughout a low-income student’s entire academic career.= =Education is one of the best investments the state can make. As we have noted before, some school districts face cuts of more than $1,000 per student in state funding. Most of those districts serve low-income students. Additional funding should go first to them as well as community colleges, which are on the frontlines of training and educating unemployed workers.= =Some have suggested the surplus should be rebated. That sounds great until you figure that if the money is divided equally among 12 million Pennsylvanians, everyone would get about $45. That’s hardly enough to fill a gas tank anymore.= =Most people also understand that $45 or so is not going to compensate for the increases in property taxes some districts are asking for in light of the state funding cuts. The middle class is not that stupid.= =Another popular suggestion is to deposit the surplus in the Rainy Day Fund. There is certainly merit to the idea of rebuilding for the future, but let’s be honest, this state is still in deep economic hardship. Gov. Tom Corbett even used the word “recession” in his budget address. If this isn’t a rainy day, what is?= =In recent years, every lawmaker wanted to prove he or she could “talk tough” on the budget, but now it’s time to “talk smart.” Skip the partisan gimmicks and do what’s right and what Pennsylvanians want: Use the surplus for education funding.= = = = = = =

= = = = =News= =home= = = = =