POTTSVILLE – The governor’s latest veto, issued on April 4, 2016, will cost school districts in Schuylkill County $5.9 million in reimbursement for construction projects, according Senator David G. Argall (R-Schuylkill/Berks).
Under the state’s Planning and Construction Workbook, otherwise known as PlanCon, school districts receive a portion of funding for new construction and renovation projects from the state. Eleven out of the county’s 14 school districts were set to receive the reimbursement under the state’s PlanCon program based on the passage of a budget-related bill, known as the Fiscal Code
“Under previous law, our school districts had every reason to expect this funding, which is why I voted to release these dollars to the school districts,” Argall said. “Unfortunately, the governor’s veto will require school districts to wait even longer. I’m hopeful that we can resolve this issue soon.”
House Bill 1327, also known as the budget-related Fiscal Code, included the following reimbursements for the following local school districts:
| Blue Mountain Area School District | $623,819.65 |
| Hazleton Area School District | $2,280,069.62 |
| Mahanoy Area School District | $325,905.40 |
| Minersville Area School District | $324,060.09 |
| North Schuylkill School District | $278,670.42 |
| Panther Valley School District | $260,173.01 |
| Pine Grove Area School District | $66,239.04 |
| Schuylkill Haven Area School District | $431,301.01 |
| Shenandoah Valley School District | $1,051,839.26 |
| Tamaqua Area School District | $194,148.97 |
| Tri-Valley Area School District | $69,577.71 |