Top Republican state lawmakers hope to finish a budget soon for the new fiscal year as they consider using surplus tax revenue to ease the impact of proposed spending cuts in aid to universities, public schools and hospitals.
A staff lawyer for House Speaker Sam Smith said today that he believes negotiators are close to an agreement on a budget that can pass both the House and Senate this week and get Gov. Tom Corbett’s signature.
The lawyer, Dave Thomas, says the budget will be less than $27.3 billion, or about a 3 percent reduction from this year’s budget. The new fiscal year begins July 1.
Corbett opposes raising taxes and is insisting on a budget that spends no more than $27.3 billion, regardless of the size of the surplus.