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Link to Berks County School Article
At first glance it didn't look too bad.
But as local educators dug deeper into the proposed budget Gov. Tom Corbett unveiled Tuesday, the news grew bleaker.
While basic education funding, the largest source of state dollars for local school districts, took a smaller hit than expected, entire other funding streams were eliminated.
The $47.6 million that last year went to the Pennsylvania Education Assistance Program, which provides tutors for struggling students, was cut.
More than $224 million in reimbursements paid to public school districts for charter school tuitions was eliminated.
And more than $259 million for Accountability Block Grants - which can pay for things such as full-day kindergarten or staff salaries - was completely axed.
"It's not good," said John L. Steffy, Reading School District business manager. "No accountability block grant, no charter school reimbursement, and we're down to $110 million - we're looking at quite a funding deficit."
Including the charter school, tutoring and block grant cuts, the proposed budget would cut Reading's funding by more than 14 percent to about $110.7 million.
Last year more than $121 million of Reading's $224 million budget was from basic education funding.
Steffy said the slashes in funding will result in some substantial cuts for the district, especially since costs continue to rise.
"We're looking at over $12 million due in increases in just salaries and benefits," he said.
At first glance it didn't look too bad.
But as local educators dug deeper into the proposed budget Gov. Tom Corbett unveiled Tuesday, the news grew bleaker.
While basic education funding, the largest source of state dollars for local school districts, took a smaller hit than expected, entire other funding streams were eliminated.
The $47.6 million that last year went to the Pennsylvania Education Assistance Program, which provides tutors for struggling students, was cut.
More than $224 million in reimbursements paid to public school districts for charter school tuitions was eliminated.
And more than $259 million for Accountability Block Grants - which can pay for things such as full-day kindergarten or staff salaries - was completely axed.
"It's not good," said John L. Steffy, Reading School District business manager. "No accountability block grant, no charter school reimbursement, and we're down to $110 million - we're looking at quite a funding deficit."
Including the charter school, tutoring and block grant cuts, the proposed budget would cut Reading's funding by more than 14 percent to about $110.7 million.
Last year more than $121 million of Reading's $224 million budget was from basic education funding.
Steffy said the slashes in funding will result in some substantial cuts for the district, especially since costs continue to rise.
"We're looking at over $12 million due in increases in just salaries and benefits," he said.
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