HARRISBURG - Republicans who control the Pennsylvania Senate advanced a plan Monday to increase Gov. Tom Corbett's 2012-13 spending proposal by more than a half-billion dollars, saying improved tax collections will make more money available for education, social services and other programs targeted for cuts.
Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi said the plan would provide an additional $245 million for higher education, $73 million more for pre-kindergarten through 12th grade schooling and an $84 million boost to county governments for social services in the fiscal year that starts July 1.
Pileggi, R-Delaware, cited better-than-anticipated tax revenue in March and April as a sign of better times ahead, though he acknowledged "this is the beginning of the process" of negotiating a state budget.
Corbett spokesman Kevin Harley offered no encouragement for the governor's fellow Republicans.
He warned that the growing cost of public employee pensions, debt service and other mandated expenses would outstrip revenue growth over the next two years.
"The Senate budget proposal is clearly not sustainable beyond the 2012-13 fiscal year and would move the state farther away from the goal of achieving long-term structural balance," he said.
Corbett has proposed holding the spending level at $27.1 billion, calling for cuts in education and social services while not increasing taxes.
The Senate GOP plan would restore half of the $100 million "accountability" grants that helped fund full-day kindergarten, which Corbett has proposed eliminating.
It also would dismantle a proposed new block-grant program into which the governor wanted to fold public school aid with transportation and other costs. Those items would remain as separate line items under the Senate proposal, Pileggi said.
"It's easier for members to understand what we're proposing to spend and how it compares to prior years," Pileggi said.
Funding in Monday's plan for higher education includes an additional $147 million for the state-related universities - Penn State, Pittsburgh, Temple and Lincoln - and $83 million more for the 14 state-owned universities that make up the State System of Higher Education.
The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency would receive an additional $15 million.
Floor votes on the Senate plan are expected as early as Wednesday, said Erik Arneson, spokesman for the Senate Republicans.
Pileggi said the caucus' plan was developed in "close communication" with the Corbett administration and leaders of the House GOP majority.
