On Sunday evening, Senate Republicans amended House Bill 2328 (Adolph-R-Delaware) to create a $29 billion General Fund budget without any new taxes. This compares to the House-passed $29.1 billion budget and last year’s $28.5 billion budget.
The Senate budget relies even more on additional “non-impact” drilling leasing of State Park and Forestry land by calling for the transfer of $95 million, not $75 million as House Republicans had proposed, from the Oil and Gas Fund.
This is in addition to at least $73 million from the Oil and Gas Fund to support DCNR’s State Parks and Forest administrative operations.
Beyond the transfer of $6.2 million from the Alternative Fuels Incentive Grants Fund there are NO TRANSFERS proposed from the Keystone Fund, Underground Storage Tank Indemnification Fund or other environmental funds.
There are still many details lacking, particularly amendments to the Fiscal Code which will include language related to any budget deals to adopt unrelated programs and information on which state tax credit programs will be suspended.
There has been no agreement on general pension reform or liquor privatization, Gov. Corbett’s key priorities.
The Senate is expected to have a floor debate on the budget bill on Monday. Midnight June 30 is the deadline to have the state budget in place.
Here’s a thumbnail of what is known now--
Agriculture
-- Horse Racing Fund transfer of $17.6 million, same as last year
Environmental Protection
-- DEP Operations - $12.4 million increase
-- Sewage Facilities Planning Grants - $500,000 increase
-- Delaware River Basin Commission - $500,000 cut
Conservation & Natural Resources
-- Heritage Parks Program - $2.75 million, up from $2.25 million last year
Funding Sources:
-- Non-Impact Drilling On DCNR Land - $95 million
-- At least $73 million transferred from the Oil and Gas Fund to support DCNR operations
-- Alternative Fuels Incentive Grant Fund - $6.2 million
-- NO transfer from Keystone Fund or Underground Storage Tank Indemnification Fund
Attorney General - $5 million increase
State Treasurer - $3.8 million increase
Auditor General - Flat funding
Judiciary - Flat funding
House - $1.9 million increase
Senate - $950,000 increase
Click Here for a copy of the Senate line item spreadsheet. Click Here for the Senate budget balance and transfers sheet.
Click Here for more on the House-passed budget.