Takac: Passage of House Bill 2370 guides public school funding in right direction
Rep. Paul Takac June 12, 2024 | 1:27 PM
This week, I proudly joined colleagues in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in passing H.B. 2370, a critical first step in the multi-year process of repairing the broken, inadequate and unconstitutional system of funding public education in our Commonwealth.
Our plan would make critical and long overdue investments to begin to level the playing field without taking one dime from any district. It also would allow local schools to keep $530 million in local tax dollars and provide over $1 billion in tax relief for overburdened taxpayers. And it would do all of this without a tax increase. This plan delivers for every student in Centre County.
In the upcoming school year, districts that serve Centre County students would receive nearly $4.5 million in new funding, including almost $300,000 in tax relief for Bald Eagle Area School District.
And by reforming excessive payments to underperforming, unaccountable cyber charter schools - who today receive FAR more than they actually need - our districts would be able to keep $4 million of YOUR tax dollars, while still allowing for school choice.
That would be a total of nearly $8.5 million in funding this year to improve our schools, again ?????????????? ?? ?????? ????????????????.
Despite much misinformation and even deception, H.B. 2370 is a reasonable, responsible and sustainable path to ensure full and adequate funding for all. It benefits every district, student, community and taxpayer, especially those that need help the most, so that every child in PA - regardless of ZIP code, wealth or anything else - has what they need to succeed.