HARRISBURG — The fat lady is still warming up her vocal chords, but local Republican lawmakers say the tentative state budget is the best they’ve seen in years.
Sen. John Gordner even said the proposed spending plan is “reasonable and responsible” with respect to the slumping economy.
The framework for spending for the new fiscal year was laid out early Monday morning. This is the first time in years the budget debate hasn’t pushed the midnight June 30 deadline. Last year, stalled negotiations forced a one-day furlough of some state workers, shuttering state parks, driver’s licensing centers and other state operations.
The 2008-2009 budget has been set at $28.2 billion. That’s an increase of 3.8 percent which is in line with inflation, Gordner said. He added during Gov. Ed Rendell’s first few years in office he proposed average increases of 7 percent from year to year. Rendell’s original budget for the fiscal year called for a 4.2 percent increase.
Gordner, as well as state Reps. Merle Phillips and Russ Fairchild, were pleased the increase in spending is accompanied by broad-based tax.
“This is one of the better budgets in the last few years,” Phillips said Monday. “We’re not asking people to pay more, and that’s certainly a plus in the times we’re going through.”
The good feelings are due in part to Pennsylvania’s surplus from this year. As of Monday, the state had an extra $150 million in the bank.
Despite the positive steps in Harrisburg, there is still some wrangling to be done. Several line items are under review by the leadership of the four caucuses and the governor’s staff. As Fairchild put it, with no pun intended, the fireworks are expected on Thursday or Friday. The details will be shared at that time, he said.
The lawmakers said they’re keeping their eyes on issues related to this area, including science, the environment, agriculture and small business development.
Phillips is a strong supporter of the Science-in-Motion program, which often shows a $0 balance early in the budget season. In the past he said the program, which exposes local students to scientific equipment to which they may not otherwise have access, is used as a bargaining tool. Gordner said he is worried about cuts to agricultural programs and funding that would go to the Small Business Development Center at Bucknell University and SEDA-COG.
Some of the major items of importance in the budget include borrowing from other areas of revenue to support causes like fixing aging infrastructure, alternative energy projects and upgrading outdated water and sewer facilities.
“Small towns in my area can’t afford to pay millions (for sewer upgrades),” Phillips said, in response to mandates aimed at cleaning up the Chesapeake Bay and its watershed.
“There are good programs to help our region with the sewer upgrades,” Fairchild added.
Over the next four years, some $1.6 billion is expected to be distributed statewide to aid in keeping the bay clean without bankrupting rural communities, he said.
Some school districts in the area will also be positively impacted by the budget, Gordner said. With the proposal, each district in the state is guaranteed a 3 percent minimum increase. Both Warrior Run and Lewisburg were set at below 3 percent, he said.

Jeff Shaffer: 570-742-9671
jeff@standard-journal.com