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Senate News Update
From Senator Jane Earll
September 6, 2011
State Funding for Education
From year to year, education spending remains the single largest piece of the General Fund
budget – and total education spending is approaching half of all General Fund
appropriations. Spending for Pre-K to Grade 12 education in the current year
represents almost 35 percent of the current state budget. This
does not include our spending for higher education, which accounts for an
additional 6.1 percent. That works out to be approximately 41
percent of all state spending going to educate the young people of the
Commonwealth.
Basic Education spending has increased significantly over the past decade,
noticeably outpacing the inflation rate over the past several years. In Fiscal Year 2009-10 and 2010-11,
the federal government provided temporary funds for education to the states.
During these two years, school districts were reminded that these dollars were
only temporary and were cautioned against using them to expand programs or grow
expenses. With these federal dollars, total education spending in Pennsylvania
increased even though state dollars for basic education were reduced in FY
2009-2010 and 2010-2011. With the expiration of the federal money in 2010-11,
state spending on Basic Education remained below 2006-07 levels.
However, in response to the situation created by the elimination of the federal
funds and the reduction of state dollars, the2011-12 budget increased state
spending on Basic Education to$5.354 billion, its highest level ever. This
figure is significantly greater in comparison to recent years: a $483 million
increase in state dollars over 2009-10 and a $621 million increase over 2010-11.
In the end, the increase in state dollars covered over 50 percent of the gap
created by the disappearing federal funds.
Granted, there is a reduction of total dollars in Basic Education spending from
FY10-11 and FY11-12; however the decrease is the result of the disappearance of
federal funds.
In addition, Special Education in support of students with special needs
has seen a steady increase in taxpayer funding. This appropriation has increased
by more than $152 million, or 17.4 percent, over the last 10 years.
This chart includes selected Fiscal Year 2011-2012 State education line items:
| Line Item: |
Appropriation: |
| |
|
| Basic Education |
$5,354,629,000 |
| Special Education |
$1,026,815,000 |
| School Employees' Retirement |
$600,172,000 |
| Early Intervention |
$198,116,000 |
| Community Colleges |
$212,167,000 |
| University of Pittsburgh |
$136,076,000 |
| Penn State University |
$227,694,000 |
| Temple University |
$139,917,000 |
| Lincoln University |
$11,163,000 |
| |
|
| TOTAL Educ. Dept. Appropriation |
$10,108,235,000 |
Funding for the duties of state government compares as follows:
| Responsibility |
Percent of State Budget, FY 2011-2012 |
| |
|
| Pre-K to Grade 12 Education |
34.4% |
| Medical Assistance (including Long Term Care) |
22.5% |
| Other human services programs |
16.4% |
| Other (various) |
8.5% |
| Corrections/Probation & Parole |
7.3% |
| Higher Education |
6.1% |
| Debt Service |
3.8% |
| Legislature |
1.0% |
| |
|
| State General Fund Budget |
$27,150,000,000 |
The complete state budget is available online at
www.pa.gov.
Contact: Senator Jane M. Earll's office – 814-453-2515 or
jearll@pasen.gov. |
