State Education Secretary Gerald Zahorchak said the proposed budget for education shows the governor views education as "a cornerstone for building a strong economy."

In a telephone news conference today, Dr. Zahorchak said, "The better we prepare the workforce, the better off our commonwealth and its taxpayers will be."

Still, he said there were hard choices in difficult economic times. Under Gov. Ed. Rendell's proposal, spending for basic education would go up, and spending for public higher education would hold steady.

The budget calls for a $354.8 million increase in basic education spending -- 7.28 percent -- to be allotted using a formula aimed at providing more resources for school districts that are getting an inadequate share. Basic education funding would total $5.88 billion.

The increase, as well as a portion of existing level of basic education funding, would be paid for with $654.7 million of federal economic stimulus money.

This would bring the state to 41 percent of its funding target.

For higher education, the proposed budget shows $482.6 million -- counting $38.1 million in economic stimulus money -- for the 14 state-owned universities, including California, Clarion, Edinboro, Indiana and Slippery Rock. That's the same total as for the current year.

The four state-related universities -- Penn State, Pitt, Temple and Lincoln -- would receive $320.2 million for general support, including $15.8 million in economic stimulus money, also the same total as for he current year.

For community colleges, the proposal also calls for holding spending steady at $235.7 million, including $21.5 million from economic stimulus money. It also provides $46.4 million for a capital expenses, the same as the current year.

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