PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Pennsylvania’s budget is supposed to be finalized by June 30. But with a week and a half to go, Republicans and Democrats seem far apart as they battle over tax cuts and education funding.
The House Republican Policy Committee held a meeting Wednesday in Harleysville, hosted by state Rep. Donna Scheuren.
“I focused and brought it here, to the Souderton School District, because of the uniqueness of how they're being penalized,” she said.
The education funding plan passed by House Democrats would reform cyber charter funding and add $728 million each year for seven years to bring the funding in line with a state court ruling that found the current model is unconstitutional.
Scheuren says the bill labels Souderton Area School District a “low tax effort,” and would require it to pay into a fund for other districts.
“If you spend more then you're eligible to get more, and that's not something I think the seniors and the veterans and those already struggling in our community want to hear during inflationary times,” Scheuren said.
Souderton Superintendent Frank Gallagher says if the district had raised taxes over recent years, they wouldn’t fall in that category.
“I don't have anybody that says I don't want to pay my property taxes for the Souderton Area School District. They're very proud of the school district and they want to pay their fair share. However, it's the continued increases,” said Franconia Township Tax Collector Keith Freed.
House Democrats say the bill was based on a report from a bipartisan committee, House Republicans say it was rammed through without any input from the right.
House GOP members are pushing for the tax plan that passed the State Senate — a $3-billion tax cut that would lower the personal income tax rate and eliminate the gross receipts tax on electricity.