State dollars headed to schools, counties and social service agencies

(Harrisburg) — Less than a week after Governor Tom Wolf authorized the release of some state funds, the money is going out to schools.

State Treasurer Tim Reese says his agency has sent out over 16,000 payments to school districts, counties, and social service agencies.

As a result, more than $3.3 billion in delayed state funding could arrive as early as today.

“Those payments are going to our most needed or affected groups, which are our school districts, counties and human service organizations,” Reese said.

An additional 35,000 payments have also been expedited, and Reese says those funds, which typically take up to 10 days to be processed will be paid out within the next two weeks.

The news comes as welcome relief to organizations like the Pennsylvania School Boards Association.

PSBA spokesman Steve Robinson said his organization is pleased Governor Tom Wolf authorized funding for schools as part of his line-item veto of a Republican-backed state budget.

“We continue to call on the legislature and the governor to continue to work toward a budget that significantly invests in the future of Pennsylvania and provides pension reform for school districts,” Robinson said. “The crisis is far from over, but we owe it to the students of Pennsylvania to change ‘politics as usual’ and find compromise.”

But, the move is only a temporary fix.

Robinson says after six months, if a final budget is not approved, school districts will find themselves in the same financial situation they were in prior to the budget impasse.