Burns: Fiscally responsible budget invests in future
State budget increases education funding while cutting corporate taxes
Rep. Frank Burns July 7, 2022 | 8:09 PM
HARRISBURG, July 7 – As a fiscally conservative legislator, state Rep Frank Burns today threw his support behind a bipartisan budget deal that would increase funding for local schools, while promoting economic development by cutting corporate income taxes – all while saving billions of dollars against future needs.
“No budget is ever perfect, but this spending plan is a win for the taxpayers, making important investments in education and programs that benefit seniors and working families, while actually reducing business taxes,” Burns said. “It also funds mental health and school safety programs, while providing dollars for childcare to help people re-enter the workforce.”
Burns said the budget will increase state funding to local schools as follows:
- Blacklick Valley: $389,016 + $254,009 in Level Up funding, or 11.5%.
- Cambria Heights: $292,807, or 3%.
- Central Cambria: $249,688, or 3.3%.
- Conemaugh Valley: $214,643, or 3.6%.
- Ferndale Area: $258,904 + $225,822 in Level Up funding, or 8.4%.
- Forest Hills: $476,640, or 3.7%.
- Glendale: 229,695, or 3.8%.
- Greater Johnstown: $1,193,500 + $1,630,781 in Level Up funding, or 12.7%.
- Northern Cambria: $493,332, or 5.5%.
- Penn Cambria: $233,498, or 2.4%.
- Portage Area: $291,902, or 4.2%.
- Richland: $419,168, or 12.1%.
- Westmont Hilltop: $275,164, or 6.4%.
The Cambria County lawmaker said it would also increase Pre-K Counts funding by $60 million, Head Start funding by $19 million, and it would create a new Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit for working families. The budget also includes an increase in funding for the popular Property Tax/Rent Rebate program for seniors and disabled individuals.
“I know how tough it is for our seniors, many of whom are on fixed incomes, which is why I voted to support the increase in the Property Tax/Rent Rebate program,” Burns said. “Each year my office helps our older neighbors with this program, so I know firsthand how important it is for so many older households in our community.”
Burns also pointed to increases in state support for higher education, for everything from PHEAA grants for students to funding for entrepreneurial programs and a dual enrollment program for high school students as another reason for his support.
Finally, the budget package would cut the state’s Corporate Net Income Tax, bringing Pennsylvania into line with other states, increasing the commonwealth’s ability to attract new businesses and enabling existing employers to grow and succeed.
“Cutting the Corporate Net Income Tax is good for business, and that’s good for our community,” Burns said. “We need to be doing everything we can to encourage economic growth and development in our communities, and this is a step in the right direction.”