Apr. 07, 2016
HARRISBURG – Members of the York County House Republican delegation are expressing disappointment over the method by which education funding is being distributed throughout Pennsylvania. While allowing the general appropriations portion of the state budget to become law two weeks ago, Gov. Tom Wolf chose to veto the Fiscal Code bill – the legislation that facilitates distribution of budgeted money.
Today, York County Reps. Seth Grove (R-Dover), Kate Klunk (R-Hanover), Kristin Phillips-Hill (R-York Township), Mike Regan (R-Dillsburg) and Stan Saylor (R-Red Lion) issued the following statement in reaction to the governor’s announcement on distribution of school funding:
“Two years ago, the Basic Education Funding Commission (BEFC) was created to address inadequacies in Pennsylvania’s basic education funding formula. This bipartisan group of 15 state officials unveiled its results last June. What they recommended was a vast improvement over the existing formula, which did not account for changes in school enrollment, household income or a school district’s ability to generate local tax-related revenue.
“Gov. Tom Wolf called the commission’s work a ‘big step forward for the people of Pennsylvania and for our education system and a strong statement. He described it as being more transparent, as well as fair and more predictable. Today, those words ring hollow.
“In addition to ignoring the commission’s work by using a formula of his own creation, the governor is once again leaning to the southeast. The School District of Philadelphia will receive more than $1 billion in basic education funding - 18 percent of the available money. What’s left will be divided among Pennsylvania’s other 499 school districts.
“It’s simple - every York County school district, including the York City School District, would have made out better under the BEFC formula by a combined total of nearly $14 million. Gov. Wolf chose his own will and pleasure over the work of the Legislature for completely selfish reasons.
“The governor’s executive decision does mean increased funding to schools. We question his decision to completely ignore a vehicle that would begin to atone for the amount of money York County schools have been shortchanged by an unfair funding formula. Gov. Wolf could have done MUCH better.”
Here is a breakdown of the total education funding loss to York County schools (totaling more than $16 million) due to Gov. Wolf's unilateral funding formula decision:
Central York: $1,374,493
Dallastown: $1,233,252
Dover: $1,076,203
Eastern York: $792,251
Hanover: $483,708
Northeastern: $644,028
Northern York: $620,299
Red Lion: $2,090,036
South Eastern: $939,330
South Western: $839,132
Southern York: $1,232,649
Spring Grove: $1,293,850
West Shore: $67,085 (does not include Plancon numbers)
West York: $526,099
York City: $2,762,378
York Suburban: $692,871
York County House Republican Delegation
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Scott Little
717.260.6137
slittle@pahousegop.com