As expected, the legislature’s post-primary return has brought with it a flurry of activity on the state budget. The Senate Republicans previewed a $27.65 billion budget on Monday. The bill was unanimous approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee on Tuesday, and passed the full Senate by a vote of 39-8 Wednesday afternoon.

The Senate package (SB 1466) would spend $500 more than Governor Corbett’s initial $27.15 billion budget proposal. House Republicans and the Corbett Administration have both signaled that the proposal represents the “ceiling” for debates that will unfold over the coming weeks.

Budget Secretary Charles Zogby had previously stated that the state cannot afford the Senate plan, and that even a modest increase is “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 noted that the state mandated cost increases over the next two years were more than $1 billion above projected revenue growth.

Senate Leadership maintains that this level of spending increase is indeed sustainable. Senate Appropriation Chair Jake Corman (R-Centre) said, “I fail to see how a less-than-2-percent spending increase takes us from fiscal responsibility to unsustainability, as they claim.”

“This plan does not create a single new program. It does not raise a single tax,” said Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi (R-Delaware). “This is a responsible, sustainable state budget.”

Restored areas of funding in the Senate plan include:

• $245 million in funding for higher education – $147 million for state-related universities, $83 million for state-owned universities, $15 million for PHEAA;
• $50 million for cash-strapped school districts;
• $14 million in early childhood education;
• $168 million in mental health and retardation services;
• $18 million to the Keystone Conservation Fund.

During Tuesday’s Appropriations Committee meeting, the Capital Budget Act of 2012-13 (Senate Bill 1480) was also unanimously reported as committed.

Click here to view line-item spreadsheets of the Senate GOP proposal.
Click here to view House Bill 1466
Click here to view Governor Corbettt’s proposed budget.

Continental Breakfast provided. For information or to register, call 717.761.1660 or online Register today!

RSVP Deadline June 1, 2012

Access your peers and other members at this networking event and educational program about SMC Business Councils. Learn the history of the association, obtain valuable information on key benefits, network with your peers, and meet the staff. Join us, and see the value of being a member of SMC … Pennsylvania’s premier organization for small business.

Register today!

. Read the entire magazine online at www.smc.org.

Are you thinking of starting a new business? Are you in the process of growing a business? If you answered yes to either of these questions, than you need to attend the Entrepreneur’s Growth Conference entitled Find Your Key to Business Growth on Wednesday, May 9, 2012.

Find out more details about this exciting conference in the article on page 24 of the March/Aprill 2012 issue of Dynamic Business. Click here to go to the magazine:

www.smc.org

 Continental Breakfast provided.   For information or to register, call 717.761.1660 or online Register today!

 RSVP Deadline June 1, 2012

 Access your peers and other members at this networking event and educational program about SMC Business Councils. Learn the history of the association, obtain valuable information on key benefits, network with your peers, and meet the staff. Join us, and see the value of being a member of SMC … Pennsylvania’s premier organization for small business.

 Register today!

Who else attended the meeting?  What all did they cover?  What pictures were taken? Can’t wait for more details?  Here’s a picture of the two as we exited the interview in the elevator.  Look for a fewmore “breadcrumbs” as you wait for the issue to come out.

Our SMC outings include a luncheon buffet (before golf), great dinner (after golf), golf (shotgun), carts, practice range, all other country club fees, and MANY prizes!!

WHERE!!

Southpointe Golf Club (Canonsburg, PA) Wednesday, May 23, 2012, 1:00 PM $165
Mystic Rock Golf Club (Farmington, PA) Tuesday, June 26, 2012, 1:00 PM $160
Allegheny Country Club (Sewickley, PA) Tuesday, July 24, 2012, 1:00 PM $190
Fox Chapel Golf Club (Fox Chapel, PA) Tuesday, August 28, 2012, 1:00 PM $270

To register, click here: www.smc.org/events

LIMITED NUMBER OF PLAYERS! REGISTER NOW BEFORE ALL SPOTS ARE FILLED!

PRIZES!! SMC Insurance Agency Inc. sponsors the skill and door prizes, which are Pro Shop certificates that can be conveniently redeemed at the Pro Shop after the dinner.

IMPORTANT PAYMENT INFORMATION: All players must pay for the outing either by CHECK or CREDIT CARD seven days before the outing. SMC does not invoice for golf outings…sorry for any inconvenience. Because the country clubs charge SMC for no-shows, no refunds will be permitted if you do not cancel seven days before the event.

…for any additional information… please contact Jerry DiFrango at 412.342.1622 or jerry@smc.org.

Attend and you will understand the differences between the old standard and the new, as well as learn what causes the current list of citations so you can make sure your program meets the requirements.  

The cost for this Harrisburg event is: $10 Members / $20 Non-Members (lunch included).  Hurry … space is limited!   Register today!