Pocono News Section

What Does Possible State Budget Agreement Mean For You?

What Does Possible State Budget Agreement Mean For You? - Friday, September 11, 2009 at 5:23PM EST

Reported by: Eric Deabill
Friday, Sep 11, 2009 @ 05:23pm EDT
TOWANDA, BRADFORD COUNTY - News that state lawmakers may have a break in the state budget impasse spread quickly across the state Friday afternoon.

Over the last 73 days, many social service agencies have been worried about funding while average people are just worried about new taxes.

All of the exact cuts to programs and agencies across the state are still being sorted out if the possible deal is approved.

Eyewitness News was in downtown Towanda, where we learned funding for the arts could be cut by one-third.

News that an end to the impasse may be coming was welcome news to people at the Keystone Theater.

"It's a big sigh of relief. There's so much tension in the community, way beyond the arts community," Brooks Eldredge-Martin said.

Eldredge-Martin is the Executive Director of the Bradford County Regional Arts Council. Last year, he said statewide, the arts got $15 million. If the current deal is approved, that number would drop to $10 million. That's a cut of 33 percent.

"The legislators have had a hard job and I think personally our organization can live with this," Eldredge-Martin said.

At Smokin Joe's Tobacco Shop in Wysox, customers say they don't want to live with paying higher cigarette taxes. They're fuming over a 25 cent increase per pack.

"What can you do? You know? If you're a smoker and you want to smoke, you've got to pay. I don't like it. I don't think it's fair but it is what it is," Faith Edmundson of Wyalusing said.

Others, like Joe Malinosky, say the possible tax hike will not change their habits.

"It's not fair. No. If they're going to tax them, they may as well tax alcohol up higher," Malinosky said.

Until a budget is officially passed, people across Bradford County say they know things can change.

"We're going to stay on guard until we know for sure. E-Mails are beginning to fly and there's word from the governor that he's not fully on board," Eldredge-Martin said.

If approved, a big winner in terms of funding would be education. The deal provides $300 million in new funding.

House Speaker Keith McCall of Carbon County called the budget "far from perfect."