December 13, 2023
Harrisburg, Dec. 13, 2023 – State Sen. Jim Brewster today praised completion of a final state budget package that will help Pennsylvania ease the teacher shortage and boost help for parents struggling with child-care costs while ending a nearly 6-month impasse over vouchers for private schools.
“The bills we passed today was a thoughtful and reasonable compromise that will help recruit teachers, support parents, and allow federal funding to flow to school mental health programs,” Brewster said. “Passage of the final bills addresses my priorities and shows that we can get together and work toward resolving the issues that face Pennsylvanians.”
The completed School Code creates a stipend program for student teachers that will grant up to $15,000 for those struggling trying to complete their teacher training.
“Good teachers are the foundation of our education system which, in turn, is the foundation of our economy and our quality of life,” Brewster said. “Pennsylvania has seen a sharp decline in teacher certifications and this program should help stem that decline and encourage young Pennsylvanians to become teachers.”
The completion of the negotiations also means $100 million in federal aid can be directed to schools for mental health services while another $75 million has been targeted to clean up lead, mold, and asbestos in aging school buildings. Parents will benefit from a boost in the child-care tax credit from 30 percent of the federal child-care and dependent tax credit to 100 percent. The credit is based on income, but the change would nearly triple the maximum state credit from $630 to $2,100.”
“This boost will provide families with more flexibility and better support working parents who have been struggling with the economic balance of work and family. It’s a win for families and employers,” Brewster said.
The budget agreement increases by $130 million the amount that can be awarded in tax breaks to businesses that donate to private and religious schools while increasing oversight on that program to track its fairness to marginalized students.
The plan also contains $7.5 million in first-ever state aid for overwhelmed public defenders offices in Pennsylvania and $50 million for struggling hospitals and health systems.”
For more budget details, go to www.pasenate.com/budget.
July 6, 2021
McKeesport, July 6, 2021 – In addition to funding from previous years, State Sen. Jim Brewster announced today that schools in the 45th Senate District will receive an added $10,684,245 for the next fiscal year, including $3 million in new “Level-Up” supplements targeted to help traditionally underfunded districts.
“This additional funding comes at a critical time for local school districts,” Brewster said. “We are still recovering from a pandemic that ravaged our state, and I hope to see the additional funding for education alleviate the pressure on taxpayers. The residents who fund our public education system by paying property taxes should not see an increase in their taxes – that was one of my goals while advocating for this additional funding.”
In all, the state’s 2021-2022 spending plan increases school funds by more than $300 million across Pennsylvania, including $100 million in the new Level-Up program.
“Our school funding system has too long created winners and losers among students in different – sometimes neighboring – districts,” said Brewster, a member of the Senate Education Committee. “Quality of schools and pay for teachers shouldn’t depend on zip code. Every child deserves the same chance to succeed, and this budget takes a big step toward equity. All of the schools in my district will see a substantial increase in funding, and some schools will get supplemental funding in addition to the traditional allocation. That’s a win.”
“I was happy to help shepherd these increases for public education through the Legislature to pass a budget on time without raising taxes.”
December 11, 2015
Harrisburg – Dec. 11, 2015 – Commonwealth Court’s ruling that the Department of Education cannot shift tax relief money to pay charter schools validates objections raised by Mon Valley lawmakers that were reinforced by Senate Democrats’ efforts to stop payments, state Sen. Jim Brewster (D-Allegheny/Westmoreland) said today.
“The ruling validates concerns Representatives (Bill) Kortz, (Marc) Gergely and I raised in October about charter and cyber-charters trying to access property tax relief funds earmarked for school districts,” Brewster said. “Payments to charters and cyber-charters should not be put in front of property tax relief dollars for taxpayers.
“Senate Democrats then followed up by asking the treasurer to hold off paying charters until legal issues were resolved.”
In a Dec. 9 ruling, Commonwealth Court ordered the state Department of Education to stop the redirection of property tax relief funds to charters. Once a state spending plan is approved, the payments can be made as long as they are not from property tax relief monies.
Reps. Gergely (D-Allegheny) and Kortz (D-Allegheny) along with Brewster sought a meeting in mid-October with education department officials to detail their concerns.
Typically, charter and cyber-charter payments are deducted from basic education subsidies. Given the lack of state budget and no state subsidy payments, charters requested that other available funding be used for reimbursement.
“School districts face difficult fiscal challenges that were compounded by the state budget impasse. Attempts by charters to divert tax relief funds would have made a bad situation worse,” Brewster said. “The court’s order clears up the matter and prevents an inequity.”
Brewster said that it is way past time for a state budget — with sufficient support for education – to be approved. Legal actions, such as this court case, would be unnecessary if an agreement would have been reached on a state spending plan, he said.
The state was slated to make a $45 million payout to charter schools in late October, with 312 school districts diverting funds to charters.
Brewster cited McKeesport school district as an example of the imbalance when charters step before taxpayers. He said that McKeesport should receive $1.2 million in property tax payments but charters would have taken $1.17 million of that disbursement.
Property tax relief funds are generated through gaming revenues.
CONTACT: Tim Joyce
412-380-2242
TJOYCE@pasenate.com
