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Corbett's Next Budget Calls For 500 State Employee Layoffs, $2.6B In Cuts

HARRISBURG, Pa. (CBS) - Pennsylvania governor Tom Corbett today took the wraps off a state budget proposal that cuts spending for education and many other areas in the 2011-2012 fiscal year, which begins July 1st.

The Corbett administration says the projected deficit in next year's budget is more than $4 billion, and that will require $2.6 billion in spending cuts since there are no proposed increases in taxes or fees.

Corbett proposes to reduce basic education funding by $550 million, and is calling for a number of concessions from the education community. That includes a one-year salary freeze by teachers and other school district personnel, something the administration acknowledges would have to be negotiated at the local school district level.

The budget proposal also includes significant cuts for state-owned and state-related colleges and universities.

The governor's proposed budget would eliminate more than 100 lines of appropriations and reduce more than 150 others.  It would eliminate 1,500 state employee positions -- about a third of those through layoffs.

Reported by KYW Harrisburg Bureau chief Tony Romeo.

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