2010-11 Budget Announced by Governor Rendell

Governor Rendell’s proposed state budget for next year has now been announced. Reflecting the recession and continued decreases in state tax revenues, no new initiatives or programs are included and many programs would be funded at levels below fiscal year 2008-09. For an analysis of the proposed budget by Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center, including tables showing proposed funding for specific agencies and programs, click here.

As previously announced, nonprofits will also see $161 million in mid-year budget cuts for the current fiscal year (2009-10). Funding for 33 line items - including health care facilities, bio-technology research, regional community colleges, rural cancer outreach, zoos and regional history centers – has been eliminated. Funding for 240-plus programs ranging from child welfare, mental health services, autism intervention, children’s health insurance, and Pre-K Counts was cut as much as 97%. The funds from the cuts are being put into budgetary reserve, meaning they cannot be spent. Read more here.