With parameters set, Pa. budget taking shape

With a spending number in place, Gov. Tom Corbett and top lawmakers are hammering out the final details of next year’s Pennsylvania budget.

Next year’s budget calls for spending $27.7 billion — about half a billion more than what Corbett initially proposed.

Most of the details haven’t been released yet, but lawmaker say the spending plan will include more funding for education nonprofits and private school scholarships.

Much of the increase will go to the Educational Improvement Tax Credit, which encourages companies to contribute to educational causes.

This year’s budget spends $75 million on the EITC.

The final number in next year’s proposal hasn’t been finalized yet.

The budget is due on June 30.

Both the House and Senate will need to vote on the plan, once leaders finish working out all the details.