Rapp Warns Wolf’s Revised Funding Formula Would Rob Rural Schools to Pay Back Philadelphia
HARRISBURG — Rep. Kathy Rapp (R-Warren/Crawford/Forest) today joined the growing number of House members in rejecting Gov. Tom Wolf’s proposed change to the Basic Education Funding Formula.
Wolf unexpectedly announced his proposal of running both existing and new education funds through a “fair funding” formula during a recent event in Philadelphia. Currently, only new school funding amounts are calculated through the formula, which went into effect for 2015-16. This strategy ensures a gradual transition to the new formula to avoid unjust harm to rural school districts.
It is projected that out of 500 school districts in Pennsylvania, 357 school districts would be negatively impacted and see severe cuts in basic education funds under the governor’s proposed formula.
House Appropriations Committee data shows that the governor’s plan would significantly slash state education dollars to nearly every school district serving District 65 students. Basic Education Funding decreases for local school districts, based on the 2018-19 state budget, would be as follows:
• Corry Area School District – 47 percent reduction, or just over $6.1 million.
• Penncrest School District – 60 percent reduction, or just over $11.4 million.
• Titusville Area School District – 31 percent reduction, or just under $4.4 million.
• Union City Area School District – 58 percent reduction, or just over $5.4 million.
• Warren County School District – 41 percent reduction, or just under $10.6 million.
“Clearly, Pennsylvania’s out-of-touch governor wants to rob as much as possible from rural school districts to pay back his top electoral base with nearly $350 million in increased funding earmarked for schools located in greater Philadelphia,” said Rapp, who also serves as a member of the House Education Committee. “Without question, I will oppose any future legislation that is created based on Wolf’s ludicrous education funding formula proposal.”
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Representative Kathy Rapp
65th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Ty McCauslin
717.772.9979
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