Education, Health Care Cuts Expected In Corbett's Budget Proposal

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Speculation is swirling around what Governor Tom Corbett will say when he announces this year's state budget.

A projected $3.4 billion deficit has the governor taking aim at some big budget cuts.

Since he pledged not to raise taxes, the governor is expected to slash spending dramatically.

Harrisburg insiders think education spending, health and medical assistance to the poor could be especially affected.

Both of these areas were helped with federal stimulus funding which dries up this year.

"I don't think there's an easy way out of this," Duquesne University professor Joseph Mistick said. "The question becomes this, 'Can you solve this just by slashing budgets in every department?'"

Local officials also worry that if Harrisburg cuts assistance to them, they will have to either drop programs or raise local taxes.