How Pennsylvania funds public schools has been a problem that state Rep. Stephen Barrar is still looking to fix. He also still wants to see liquor stores privatized and wants changes in how fire and ambulance companies are funded.
Barrar is the Republican representative for the 160th Legislative District. He has served 11 two-year terms and is seeking a 12th. He has a challenger this year, Democrat Anton Andrew who Barrar referred to recently as a serious challenger.
“Education funding always seems to be one of the top issues in our campaigns over the past 20 years,” he said in a telephone interview.
He said he would like to see a shift from property tax to income and sales taxes to fund schools in Pennsylvania.
Education costs increase by about $600 million per year, Barrar said, and the state is having problems keeping up.
“People want to see a change in how education is funded. Property taxes are becoming a huge problem, especially for the senior community,” he said.
In addition to shifting away from property taxes, he also wants to see the state change the funding formula. He and others have been urging for the application of the Fair Funding Formula that was passed during the last year of former Gov. Tom Corbett’s term in office but resisted by current Gov. Tom Wolf.
Barrar explained the main portion of formula saying it would allow for fewer dollars being allocated to school districts with diminishing populations. As it stands now, districts that lose population continue getting what they had been getting “almost in perpetuity. The Fair Funding Formula would make adjustments but the governor has been leery to do that.”
On another issue, Barrar said there’s a “crisis” in the state because first responder units — fire and ambulance companies — “are struggling to stay open.”
“I’m trying to find alternative ways to fund them, such as allowing our ambulance companies to bill health insurance companies.”
Under current laws, he said, they can only bill if a person is transported to a hospital, not if responders just perform triage and treat at the scene. Barrar added that he thinks that a change in the law will happen next week.
He is also trying to get post-traumatic stress injury covered under workers compensation insurance.
“Last year we had more firefighters die from suicide than died in the line of duty,” he said. “That’s a scary thing.”
He was asked whether there are any current laws he would like to see repealed. Barrar first said he hadn’t thought of that, but then brought up liquor store privatization, something he’s been talking about for years.
“We’re starting to do that, but I’d like to see that sped up,” he said. “The people in our district overwhelmingly want privatization. It would be almost like abolishing an entire department of the government [the Liquor Control Board]. We do need legislation in order to do that. I would love to see us go there.”
The thing he’s most proud of during his 22 years in office is saving the 911 emergency telephone system. He said it was close to bankruptcy several years ago but a piece of legislation he helped pass has now made the system financially secure.
Looking back over his 22 years in office, Barrar said one of the more dramatic changes has been the increased use of the Internet and email.
“Because of the Internet and email, people have greater ability to contact their representatives and elected officials. I think that’s huge. People now have a voice where before you had to write a letter or make a phone call. Now you can get on your computer and get to an advocacy group for an issue you ’re supporting or opposed to or send anybody in government an email asking them to vote a certain way,” he said.
Election day is Tuesday, Nov. 6.
About Rich Schwartzman
Rich Schwartzman has been reporting on events in the greater Chadds Ford area since September 2001 when he became the founding editor of The Chadds Ford Post. In April 2009 he became managing editor of ChaddsFordLive. He is also an award-winning photographer.
(7 votes, average: 2.86 out of 5)
Loading...
Comments