For Immediate Release
October 5, 2009
Contact: Todd Nyquist
(717) 787-7084
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Scarnati: Budget Brings Good News to Property Owners

WARREN—While this budget impasse has gone on for far too long, Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R-Jefferson) is pleased that they will be able to get it right, and property owners will end up being the big winners.

"The amount of state and federal dollars that school districts could receive under the 2009/2010 budget proposal currently in front of the legislature is tremendous and should offset the need for any property tax increases in the foreseeable future," Scarnati stated.  "This budget will not only be a win for our children and schools, but a huge win for property owners."

According to Scarnati, schools in the 25^th Senatorial District will receive anywhere from a 6% to a 15.5% increase in their overall subsidies.  Pennsylvania has increased funding to our school districts by approximately 31% over the past seven years.

"The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has shown significant support for education while, at the same time, not taking more money out of taxpayers' paychecks," Scarnati added.  "I am confident that school districts will also be able to strike the same balance with funding educational priorities without raising property taxes."

Scarnati also mentioned that the significant increase in education funding is the main difference in this proposal from the House Republican proposal.  House Republicans have chosen not to be involved in the budget process mainly due to the difference in education funding.

"Of course, given the windfall of support for education in this year's budget proposal, there should be no need to see anyone's property taxes escalate," Scarnati said.  "I have stated all along that this budget had to meet the parameters of no broad based tax increases, a budget that spends less than last year, and one that is sustainable.  Those objectives were met and, at the same time, we were able to take care of our children."

"It was a difficult process where many wonderful programs suffered some pain; however, school districts did very well," Scarnati concluded.  "One of the reasons for this increase was to ensure that school districts would not need to raise taxes on our property owners."