Proposed education funding cuts political rhetoric
Recently, there have been articles claiming there is a potential for massive cuts in educational funding to our local schools should the bi-partisan Basic Educational Fair Funding formula be totally invoked. Clarity is needed because the fog of political battle is obstructing the truth.
Beginning in the 2015-16, the bi-partisan Basic Education Funding Formula applies only to new money in the subsidy. All money above the base of 2015-16 is redistributed through the formula each year based on updated district and student data.
Unfortunately, Governor Wolf, who is a strong advocate of increased educational funding, when asked a question about whether he supports pushing all the state’s educational funding through the formula, was insufficiently able to complete the dialogue at the moment.
On July 5, Wolf clarified his position, saying that running state educational funding through the formula would take more funding instead of finite amount causing winners and losers, input from the general assembly, school districts, and communities. Gov. Wolf wants to increase state education funding and lessen the burden on local taxpayers.
Scott Wagner and his supporters are using a partial statement to cynically demonize the governor and plant seeds of misinformation in the minds of the voters. State Senator Stefano admitted, in one of his recent coffee meetings, that the chances of any bill moving forward that would strip our local schools of funding is “nil.” Such a draconian bill lacks the support of Gov. Wolf and most of the State Legislature.
Eric Pringle
Uniontown