HARRISBURG–State Rep. Curtis Thomas, D- Phila., said the state budget, which he voted against, cuts funding to basic and higher education to schools across Pennsylvania.
Thomas said education is underfunded by about $862 million yet the state revenues are showing a surplus upwards of $752 million.
Thomas said Temple University – which is located in the 181st Legislative District – has announced it would raise tuition 9.9 percent for in-state students and 5.4 percent for out-of-state students.
“The $21.8 million cut to the Philadelphia School District is an unprecedented attack on public education that will hurt children and cause thousands of jobs,” Thomas said. “Also, working families will be greatly impacted because cuts to the school district have led the City of Philadelphia to approve a 3.85% property tax increase.”Thomas said.
The Philadelphia legislator said tuition will rise 7.5 percent in the fall at the 14 state-owned universities, which includes Cheyney University of Pennsylvania. Other universities, including Lincoln University and the University of Pittsburgh, have not yet announced tuition increases.
Thomas said the Corbett-Republican team has taken money away from our children’s school programs in exchange for protecting big corporations and big oil and natural gas companies from having to pay their fair share of taxes.
“Under this budget, attending college may be out of reach for some students because their families just won’t be able to afford it,” Thomas said.
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