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Everett talks education, budget, more

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette State Rep. Garth Everett, R-Muncy, speaks with the Williamsport Sun-Gazette editorial board recently.

A state lawmaker feels the public education system should perhaps take a good hard look at how it operates.

With billions of dollars pouring into the state’s 500 public school districts, it’s perhaps time “We demand more bang for our bucks,” said state Rep. Garth Everett, R-Muncy.

In an interview with the Williamsport Sun-Gazette editorial board this week, Everett said he feels teachers are paid fairly and Lycoming County is fortunate in having good performing schools.

However, public education in many ways is entrenched in how it goes about its business.

“We have good schools,” he said, referring to local districts, while adding, “That’s not the case across Pennsylvania.”

Statewide, schools should consider ways to save money, including through consolidation of districts.

Unfortunately, consolidation is not a solution that many lawmakers want to pursue, he said.

As it is, costs continue to rise for school districts, including funding for charter and cyber schools.

Everett cited figures from the House Republican Appropriations Committee revealing state education funding for pre-kindergarten through grade 12 increased $360 million between budget years 2016-17 and 2017-18.

Rising pension costs continue to burden taxpayers, although the yearly increases are decreasing.

Everett said unlike many other recent years, the 2018-19 state budget was approved on time.

“The economy is doing better,” he said. “That made it little easier.”

So far, revenue projections for next year’s spending plan look good, he added.

Everett noted that Lycoming County ranked seventh in the state in natural gas production last year, just ahead of Tioga County.

He said he is continuing to push legislation for ensuring property owners leasing land for drilling are paid fairly by gas companies.

Last month, he voted with other House members in favor of legislation that called for overhauling Act 13, which had placed environmental restrictions on conventional oil and gas drillers.

Everett conceded that many environmental groups strongly opposed House Bill 2154.

But he noted the legislation is directed at conventional operators who tend to be smaller companies drilling shallower oil and gas wells, none of which operate in the region.

“It has zero impact here,” he said.

Everett said many areas of the state, including in rural parts of Lycoming County, are not served by high-speed internet.

It’s an issue that many business owners and residents without such service would like to see resolved.

Everett is among lawmakers supporting a shrinkage of the state Legislature.

“I voted for it. I don’t think it will do anything magic,” he said.

He said he feels a smaller Legislature could help streamline government and make it easier to pass bills.

Pennsylvania has 203 House members, one of the highest numbers among all states.

The state is also served by 50 senators.

Everett noted he is among lawmakers who want the Wolf Administration to explain what steps it will take “to inform state, municipal and school union employees of their right to choose to support their unions?” In a letter signed by Everett and other lawmakers, including state Rep. Jeff Wheeland, R-Loyalsock Township, the letter states: “In addition, please explain to us how the Administration plans to ensure that each public-sector union employee is offered the option to choose or decline to support the union before anything is taken from them?”

The letter noted that the U.S. Supreme Court in late June struck down compulsory union fees as a condition of government employment and ruled it a violation of the First Amendment for public sector unions to force all public employee to pay agency fees in support of union activities.

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