PathWays PA Policy Blog

Governor Wolf presented his sixth budget today with a focus on education, supporting workers and the workforce, and reducing gun violence. Overall, the budget increases spending to $36 billion compared to last year. Governor Wolf also proposed a higher minimum wage (as he did last year), raising the current rate of $7.25/hour to $12/hour by July and then increasing the wage over time until it reaches $15 in 2026. The last time the minimum wage increased in Pennsylvania was when the federal government increased the wage in 2009. Here are some of the articles we've been reading on the budget: Highlights of the proposed 2020-21 Pennsylvania budget Pa. Governor’s Budget Pushes for Addressing Asbestos in Schools, College Debt Aid Pa. budget: Another year of flat funding for public libraries lands them in ‘Loser’ list Governor Wolf Urges Legislature to Tackle Gun Violence, Student Debt, Toxic Schools Click here for large version Click here to view larger version

We're heading into another budget season - time to break out the spreadsheets and charts! Governor Wolf presented his budget today with a focus on education and jobs, with what both sides described as a bipartisan outlook  or at the very least places where both parties could find agreement . Overall, the budget increases spending by 4.2% (or $1.4 billion) compared to last year. Nearly $300 million would go towards increased education spending for K-12, special education, and state universities. Governor Wolf also proposed a higher minimum wage, raising the current rate of $7.25/hour to $12/hour by July and then increasing the wage over time until it reaches $15 in 2025. The last time the minimum wage increased in Pennsylvania was when the federal government increased the wage in 2009. Here are some of the articles we've been reading on the budget: Schools, farms and voting machines in Gov. Tom Wolf's budget sights Gov. Wolf unveils budget: more money for public ...

There were few surprises in this year's Pennsylvania budget (other than the fact that it finished up early). We've compiled our usual list below of line items affecting low-income families and the people we serve. To see the full budget, visit the PA Office of the Budget . As you can see below, most line items that we follow stayed level or increased in funding. While the Governor's budget "zeroed out" (removed funding) from a few, all programs that we watch regained their funding in the legislature.

Click here to enlarge This afternoon, Governor Wolf announced the 2018-2019 budget, along with some of his policy initiatives for the year. In his budget speech , he proposed an additional $125 million for K-12 education and a new program, called Community Health Choices, designed to help seniors receive care in their communities instead of in facilities. The budget summary  also calls for an increase in the minimum wage, modernization of the Equal Pay law, and the passage of a statewide paid sick days bill. The chart pictured here shows selected line items from the Governor's budget. Basic Education, Pre-K Counts, and the Children's Health Insurance Program are among the programs set to get an increase, while Adult and Family Literacy and County Assistance Offices see a slight decrease in funding. A number of programs, including Mobile Science and Math Education, Job Training and Special Education, Regional Cancer Institutes, ALS Support Services, and the New Choices/Ne...

They're still dotting the eyes and crossing the t's, but it looks like we will have a PA budget that is close to on time. After a Senate vote earlier, the House must also approve the budget legislation before it heads to Governor Wolf. The Governor has indicated he will sign the bill, but probably not until early next week when other pieces of the budget are ready for his signature too. Below is our chart on the final budget proposal. Most (but not all) of the programs we track received flat or increased funding. Click here to enlarge

The Pennsylvania State House voted yesterday to pass a 2017-2018 budget package that cuts $815 million in spending from the budget proposed by Governor Wolf in February. The final vote was 114-85, with most (but not all) Republicans supporting the plan but no Democratic votes. The bill now moves on to the Senate. Budget cuts could be found across the board, including the human services line items that we follow. Some increases to education made by the governor remain in the budget, although early childhood education is getting a smaller increase than requested. Please take a look at the chart below to see how your budget items fared, or look at the full budget here . Your next steps: Look at the line items that matter to you, and call your state senator to share your thoughts. Should something be getting more money? Less? Tell your senator today. (PS - The Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center has a Fair Share Tax proposal on their website that could give you some ideas on how a...

As in most years, we've put together a graphic highlighting programs of special interest to PathWays PA and our clients. Please take a look and let us know what you think of the Governor's proposed funding methods.

Beginning October 1, 2016, students applying for financial aid for higher education will be able to use a new, easier process being proposed today . Traditionally, students preparing for college or graduate school must fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, to qualify for federal grants and loans. The FAFSA application window runs from January 1 to June 30 for the upcoming school year, so if you were going to school in September 2015, you sent in a FAFSA sometime before June 30, 2015. While the application has become easier in recent years, it still takes time and persistence. Even once the FAFSA is filed, students must sometimes wait until their taxes - and their parents taxes - are filed for the paperwork to be processed. By the time students receive their financial aid packages, they have already applied to colleges and may have even made a decision on where to go without knowing how much funding they will have. Under the new proposal being made by Pr...

On Wednesday, June 19 from 2PM-3:30PM join CLASP for a webinar and conversation with Enroll America and Young Invincibles , two leading organizations raising awareness about the potential impact of ACA on community college students across the country. On the webinar, you will learn about:   New health coverage options available to students   Resources and potential partners that can help you connect with students   Strategies for developing effective and doable outreach campaigns to connect with as many community college students as possible.   Register Here

Join the discussion on Tuesday, April 16, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., at CCP in the Center for Business and Industry, Room C2-28, for Honoring Our HERoes: Giving Service for Your Service. There will be a panel discussion and reception sponsored by The Links, Incorporated, Philadelphia Chapter , in partnership with the Community College of Philadelphia Veterans Resource Center . The panel will discuss the challenges of women veterans and the process of successfully transitioning from military life. This event is open to males and to spouses of women veterans. please RSVP: women.veterans.links@gmail.com For more information, contact 215-751-8462 or sbachovin@ccp.edu .

10,000 Small Businesses is a program designed for small business owners who have a business poised for growth. The program provides two district components: Business and Management Education through the Community College of Philadelphia  Access to Small Business Loans through local partners, the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation (PIDC) and the Community First Fund.  Qualified applicants generally meet the following criteria: Owner or co-owner of a business  Business in operation for at least two years  Business revenues between $150,000 and $4 million  Minimum of at least four employees, including the owner Learn more and apply here 

Enrollment at Community College of Philadelphia fell 4% last fall, and officials suspect tightened eligibility guidelines for federal financial aid are in part to blame. Full-time student enrollment on its own took an even bigger hit, dropping 8.3%, from 5,540 in fall 2011 to 5,076 last fall. College costs more than doubled in four years, to $35.6 billion in 2010, because of an increase in recipients and a rise in the maximum Pell Grant award (the maximum award for the current 2012-2013 grant year is $5,550). But college officials say the recent changes, which include a lower income cap to guarantee eligibility, fewer semesters of eligibility, and elimination of summer grants, will deny some of the most vulnerable students the chance to finish college. Student loan borrowing is already at record high levels. The loss or reduction of Pell grant eligibility will force many low income students to borrow a larger amount. Community colleges are likely to be hit particularly h...

Today, the Governor released his proposed budget for 2012-2013.   Governor Corbett described the budget as one that includes no tax increases but that does make cuts to higher education and public welfare programs. Several pieces of the Governor's budget stand out this year: Elimination of the General Assistance (GA) Program : The proposed budget ends the GA program , which serves individuals who do not qualify for TANF but have verifiable need such as those related to disabilities, domestic violence, caring for someone sick or disabled or participating in a drug or alcohol treatment program.  Most counties offer GA recipients $205 per month.  According to Public Welfare Secretary Gary Alexander, current GA recipients will be screened to see if they qualify for federal SSI or other programs. Community Legal Services has posted a statement on the decision to eliminate GA that gives more information about the program as well as the impact they think it will have on fa...

While many of us in Pennsylvania are shivering through the first real cold spell of the winter, Governor Corbett's budget announcement yesterday sent new shivers through many programs and services already struggling in a tough economy.   The projected $486 million revenue shortfall led to the Governor's proposal to "freeze" $160 million in spending.  ( For further analysis of the revenue shortfall, please visit this link from the Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center. ) While this funding could be made available again in the fiscal year if revenue picks up, in most cases, budget freezes equal budget cuts. Below is a partial list of the cuts made to programs - for a full list, visit  http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/document/1214310/12_01_04_2011_12_freeze_tr_web_pdf . Not all line items were frozen. Below are some important items that remain at the same funding levels: Farmer's Market Food Coupons: $2,079,000 State Food Purchase: $17,338,...

From our friends at the National Skills Coalition . There’s still time to register for National Skills Coalition’s upcoming Federal Policy Audio Update on Thursday, December 15 at 1:00pm EST . A flurry of year-end congressional activity is likely to have significant impacts on our nation's workforce development system. Congress is expected to take up this week an omnibus spending bill for Fiscal Year 2012 that may include more than $2 billion in cuts to workforce development programs under the Department of Labor, and major restrictions on the ability of working students to receive federal Pell Grants. Congress will also take up a year-end “extenders” bill that may dramatically impact funding levels and participant eligibility—creating new education requirements—for unemployment insurance (UI), and creating new restrictions on the use of TANF funds. And if that weren’t enough, last week saw the introduction of House and Senate bills to eliminate dozens of federal job training ...

Governor Corbett unveiled the 2011-2012 state budget on Tuesday, the first of his new administration. Budget Secretary Charles Zogby outlined the Corbett Administration’s “Day of Reckoning” 2011-2012 budget proposal Tuesday morning, in a closed briefing before the press. The PBPC says that Pennsylvania, like every other state, saw a steep decline in revenue collections in the wake of the recession. While the economy of 2011 is on the mend, with tax revenue running ahead of projections and unemployment continuing to drop each month, collections still have not returned to pre-recession levels. According to Sec. Zogby, the proposal calls for a 3.1 percent reduction in spending, with 103 line items zeroed out. Notable adjustments include a return to 2008-09 spending levels for basic education funding, and roughly 50% cuts to the State System and State Related higher education lines. Correctional institutions are to receive an 11 percent increase, or $186 million. Among the actions ...

PathWays PA is pleased to bring you budget updates every Wednesday or as needed. Please check back at this Blog for up to the minute updates on the state budget. STATE BUDGET UPDATE Yesterday, Governor Corbett announced his budget proposal for the 2011-2012 fiscal year . The overall message from the budget address was job creation and no new taxes – including not taxing the gas extracted from the Marcellus Shale. Currently the deficit for the fiscal year is $4 billion, which includes the loss of federal stimulus funding, increased debt, and pension obligations. The Governor is calling for an overall spending of $27.331 billion, which represents an overall reduction of $866 million from the current budget. The Governor’s spending plan includes $2.6 billion in cuts by eliminating 103 line items, reducing 154 line items and consolidating 55 line items. The budget proposal reduces general government operation costs by an average of 2.1 percent across the board. Under th...

“The magnitude of the fiscal challenge that our state faces is perhaps unprecedented, certainly unprecedented in any time in our recent history. You probably heard of reports of a deficit of around $4 billion. I would not dissuade you of those reports today. They’re accurate. The day of reckoning has arrived."  --Pennsylvania Budget Secretary Charles Zogby What will the budget cuts include? How will these cuts affect the services you rely on? What can you do to prevent cuts that will have a long-term negative effect on Pennsylvania's families? Attend the "Day of Reckoning" State Budget Briefing to find out. This briefing, which will feature Sharon Ward from the Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center, will discuss the budget cuts and advocacy steps to address those issues. Please come to learn and to share information as Delaware County prepares for the impact of this budget and how to mitigate it. "Day of Reckoning" State Budget Briefing Tuesday, Marc...

During this Recession we have heard many stories and statistics about workers losing their jobs and being unable to find a new one. According to a new study released by the Working Poor Families Project , the Recession has also meant that workers who have kept or found new jobs are also struggling to make ends meet. Below are some of the key findings from the study: There were more than 10 million low-income working families in the United States, an increase of nearly a quarter million from the previous year. According to the Working Poor Families Project, a “low-income” family is one earning below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level, or $43, 512 for a family of four. Forty-five million people, including 22 million children, lived in low-income working families, an increase of 1.7 million people from 2008. The share of working families earning less than double the official poverty threshold increased from 28 to 30 percent between 2007 and 2009. Between 2007 and 2009, the share ...

In our previous blog post, we looked at a recent study on the cost of college across the country, and how that cost is declining .  One group this study does not focus on, unfortunately, is nontraditional students.  Instead, it focuses on full-time enrollees, usually made up of recent high school graduates.  Nontraditional students, in comparison, often attend school part-time (or less than part-time), work part-time or full-time, and often juggle family responsibilities as well as work and school.  So, while the out-of-pocket costs for students has decreased for many full-time students, the same may not apply to nontraditional students.  Nontraditional students often do not qualify for Pell grants , for instance, which are seen as playing an important role in bringing down the cost of college. But the needs of nontraditional students are important, especially here in Pennsylvania, where half of all jobs (51 percent) require some postsecondary educ...