Rendell's Budget "A Good Starting Point"

Governor Ed Rendell has gotten the 2009-10 budget season off to a good start with his proposed $29 billion spending plan for the next fiscal year that starts July 1. That's according to State Senator Jay Costa of Forest Hills, the Democratic Chair of the Appropriations Committee. Costa says he was generally pleased with Rendell's proposals including what he called "minimal targeted tax increases" while finding additional money for public education and expanding health coverage...."that additional funding for school districts ($300 million) is crucial. It helps our economy in the long run by preparing our students to become part of a well trained workforce." Costa says it also helps homeowners by keeping down property taxes.
Costa says the budget process will be lengthy and that legislators have to take a crtical and detailed look at the entire budget.