"I think Gov. Corbett is right to say that the majority of the surplus needs to be kept in reserve for the unknowns going forward," Wagner told reporters Thursday when asked about the budget.
In April and May, the state collected more in revenue than it had anticipated, leading legislators on both sides of the political aisle to push for tapping some of that money to ease the pain of Corbett's budget cuts. The governor has proposed axing more than half the state's funding of state-supported universities and by more than $1 billion for public schools.
Earlier this week, legislative budget analysts said May's revenue collection was about $34 million, or 2 percent, over the official estimate. That helped leave state government with an almost $540 million surplus as it winds down the fiscal year at month's end.
But Wagner said yesterday he wouldn't call the extra money "a surplus," because the state still faces a projected multibillion-dollar deficit next year.
"I think it's very important that the governor and General Assembly keep their eye on the ball and realize that the liabilities this commonwealth is facing dwarf any surplus," he said.
In doing so, Wagner parted company with many in his own party who have aggressively advocated for using the extra money to counter the Republican governor's proposed cuts, which have spurred many school districts to prepare to lay off teachers, eliminate programs, and raise property taxes.
House Democrats, in particular, have been arguing at every turn for finding ways to ease the budget pain. Wagner's assessment Thursday did not change their position.
