Media

Pennsylvania House Democrats Budget, By the Numbers

As we have done with Gov. Rendell’s proposed budget, the Senate passed budget, and the House GOP proposed budget amendment, here is a breakdown of the proposed Pennsylvania state budget from the House Democrats (PDF of the budget line items)

2008-09 Spending
Total State Spending: $26.7 Billion:

  • Enacted Budget: $28.3 billion
  • Less “Freezes” (cuts to actual spending): $500 million
  • Less Federal Stimulus Money (Medicaid): $1.1 billion

Funds Available: $25.2 Billion:

  • Tax Revenue: $24.3 billion ($25.5 billion less $1.2 billion in refunds)
  • Beginning Balance: $585 million
  • Prior Year Lapses (money unspent in 2007-08): $158 million
  • Oil and Gas Lease Fund: $143 million

Deficit: $1.5 Billion, made up with

  • Rainy Day Fund Transfer: $750 million
  • Health Care Provider Retention Account Transfer: $350 million
  • Tobacco Endowment Account Transfer: $150 million
  • Other Small Fund Transfers: $50 million
  • Carried over: $200 million

2009-10 Budget

Total State Spending: $26.6 Billion

  • General Fund Appropriations: $27.8 billion
  • Higher Education Fund: $1.3 billion
  • Less Federal Stimulus: $2.5 billion

Funds Available: $26.4 billion

  • Revenue: $26.6 billion
    • Zero-growth in tax collections: $24.3 billion ($25.5 billion less $1.2 billion in refunds)
    • Increase Capital Stock & Franchise Tax to 2.89 Mills, retroactive to Jan 1: $375 million
    • Redirect of Cigarette Tax from Health Care Provider Retention Account to General Fund: $190 million
    • Acceleration of Tax Payments as Proposed by Gov. Rendell: ~$480 million
    • Unnamed source of revenue for $1.3 billion higher education fund: $1.3 billion
  • Unpaid 08-09 Deficit: $200 million owed

As you can see, this still leaves about $200 million short of balanced, which could be a rounding error, a slightly different estimate, or perhaps (and I’m speculating here) an additional $200 million that would remain from Gov. Rendell’s proposed $1.5 billion PIT increase, if that were the source for the $1.3 billion in higher education spending.