Pa. governor's budget topics are schools, roads and taxes

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Public workers’ pensions, education spending and highway improvements are high on the list of likely topics as Gov. Tom Corbett marks the midway point in his first term with Pennsylvania’s annual budget address.

The Republican governor has described many aspects of what he wants to do in a series of recent interviews and public appearances, but his speech at the state Capitol today will undoubtedly contain some surprises in an agenda that has been a work in progress.

Corbett is expected to announce a budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1 that increases spending slightly over this year’s $27.7 billion approved budget to account for the rising costs for public employee pensions, health care for the poor, debt and prisons.

He has said he will call for changes to pensions in an effort to lower the government’s cost and is expected to roll out a long-term plan to improve the state’s roads, bridges and mass transit that revolves around a plan to raise wholesale fuel taxes.