Looking into the fog of education funding

THE RESIGNATION this week of Pedro Ramos as head of the School Reform Commission and Gov. Corbett's replacement pick, whenever it comes, is bound to roil the whole issue of state funding for public schools.

It's an issue that separates most Democrats from most Republicans, is certain to play big in next year's gubernatorial election and creates something like a fog of war. It's confusing and forces facts into separate ideological corners.

The answer to whether Corbett drastically cut money for education or is funding schools at record levels (or both) depends on your definition of "education."

And the political impact of the answer depends on how you view government's role when it comes to spending tax dollars.

With that in mind, here's a look at the key numbers and the arguments behind them based on interviews with legislative budget analysts from both parties.

Republicans and Corbett maintain that despite tough times and the guv's tight-reined fiscal policies, the state is spending more on public education than ever.

This includes, according to GOP House Appropriations Committee data, $1.3 billion for Philly schools, close to 5 percent of the entire state General Fund budget and a big chunk of total state K-12 spending of almost $10 billion.

But Philly mostly blames Corbett for its ongoing schools mess. And Democrats running for governor as well as Democratic appropriations analysts contend Corbett cut $1 billion to education and hasn't restored those funds.

The problem in getting close to the truth is both sides use different numbers to make their case.

Democratic appropriations data show public education spending in 2010-11 (Gov. Ed Rendell's last budget) at $6.4 billion, and in 2011-12 (Corbett's first budget) at $5.4 billion. Therefore, the governor cut education by $1 billion.

Republican appropriations data show spending in 2010-11 at $8.9 billion and in 2011-12 at $9.3 billion. Therefore, the governor increased education funding.

The numbers are so different for multiple reasons.

For one thing, Democrats don't count mandated education expenses such as transportation and pension payments, arguing that it's more important to focus on dollars spent in the classroom.

Republicans include all spending, arguing, as state Education Department spokesman Tim Eller puts it, "Every dollar is intended to benefit students."

The money in question is significant.

This year, transportation costs for the 500 school districts, non-public and charter schools totals $626 million, Eller says.

And pension costs top $1 billion in the current education budget.

Also, Republicans don't count federal dollars the state got in 2010-11 under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (the stimulus fund): close to $654 million for basic education and $383 million in education-jobs money.

Add up these now-gone funds: a little more than $1 billion.

To be sure, Corbett cut education-budget line items: for block grants, charter school reimbursement, school improvement grants and more, totaling about $644 million.

But the administration says much of that was re-funneled into basic education spending and notes that the current budget restores $100 million in block grants and includes increases for pre-K and Head Start supplemental funding.

So the argument becomes dependent upon who's counting what.

It's not unlike the job-creation argument.

Corbett only counts private-sector job growth since he took office. That count is higher than overall net jobs because tens of thousands of public-sector jobs were lost during the same period.

Democrats argue that jobs are jobs and all should be counted.

But Democrats only count certain education budget items. And Republicans say all items paid for with tax dollars should be counted.

The public (and efforts to get close to the truth) would be better served if everybody counted everything.