The state budget proposed by House Republicans Wednesday restored $3.8 million in funding for conservation districts, adds $2 million for the Heritage Parks Program, restores $400,000 in funding for Sewage Facilities Planning Grants and provides a $4.4 million increase to the Department of Environmental Protection personnel line items.

The budget also cuts Commonwealth Financing Authority funding by $2.7 million and makes a 42.7 percent decrease to funding for the Joint Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee.

None of the business tax cuts proposed by Gov. Corbett are included in the proposal.

Differences with FY 2012-13 (Governor’s proposal)

Environmental Protection

General Fund - $129.2 million, 3.5 percent increase - $4.4 million (Governor's $127.6 million)

Conservation Districts - $2.8 million restored

Sewage Facilities Planning Grants - $400,000

Conservation and Natural Resources  

General Fund - $54.9 million, 4.2 percent increase - $2.2 million (Governor's $52.7 million)

Heritage Parks Grants - $2 million restored

Agriculture

General Fund - $123.1 million, 4.9 percent decrease - $6.3 million (Governor's $117.8 million)

Animal Health Commission costs transferred to Race Horse Fund - $4.3 million

General Government Operations - cut $3.1 million

Conservation Districts - $1 million restored

In announcing the proposal Wednesday, House Appropriations Committee Majority Chair Bill Adolph (R-Delaware) introduced House Bill 1437, the House Republican budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2013-14. The proposal spends $28.3 billion, which is a $578 million or 2.1 percent increase over the current fiscal year.

The Governor proposed a budget of $28.4 billion General Fund budget, but included some $175 million in projected savings through pension reform.  The current FY 2012-13 budget is $27.7 billion.

The budget contained in House Bill 1437 was based on current law and does not factor in any policy proposals currently being considered by the legislature.  It does not include pension reform proposal, any revenue from liquor privatization or the pending transportation funding proposals.

Click Here for the House Republican budget spreadsheet. Click Here for a highlights presentation on the proposal.

Senate Democrats

On June 3 at 10:00 a.m. Senate Democrats have announced their own press conference to discuss their own budget proposal in the Senate Democratic Caucus meeting room off the Senate Floor.

Reaction

“We are extremely appreciative of Chairman Adolph, Speaker Smith, and Majority Leader Turzai for their support and their leadership” said Robert Maiden, PA Association of County Conservation Districts Executive Director. “Districts work hard every day to conserve natural resources throughout this commonwealth. A win for the districts is a win for the environment and the economy. Thank you to the House Republican membership for believing in the work of the districts and investing in our future”  

The House Republican budget, filed as House Bill 1437 (Adolph-R-Delaware), includes $2,856,000 through the state Department of Environmental Protection and $1,019,000 through the Department of Agriculture for the conservation districts’ efforts. These funding levels were part of the current year’s state general fund budget.

PACD, along with the state’s 66 conservation districts, has been advocating for months for full funding of these line items. The bill will now move on for consideration by the Appropriations Committee and the House.

For more information, visit the PACD website.

NewsClips:

House Republicans Trim Governor’s Budget Plan

House Republicans Float $28.3 Billion Budget

House Offers Plan To Boost PA Spending

State Budget Talks To Heat Up In Harrisburg

PA’s Corporate Welfare Addiction

Op-Ed: Celebrating 20 Years Of Parks, Open Space & History

Editorial: Impose A Severance Tax On Drilling

Group Urges PA To Increase Transportation Funding

Pension Overhaul Plan Stands Idle

6/3/2013