Commission eyes spending plans

May 23, 2012

Photo by Joseph Bell - Eric Bridges, left, executive director of the North Central Pennsylvania Regional Planning and Development Commission [NCPRPDC] discusses budget issues Wednesday morning alongside Doug Morley, a Potter County commissioner and chairman of the commission's executive board.

RIDGWAY - Members of the North Central Pennsylvania Regional Planning and Development Commission [NCPRPDC] are keeping a sharp eye on federal and state spending plans as lawmakers continue to make budget adjustments.
"Not much has changed when we're looking at the federal budget updates," said Eric Bridges, the commission's executive director. "We're pretty much where we were a week ago when conversations started. Appropriation bills on the federal side are moving through each respective chamber."
The appropriations process is reportedly more complex this year because of major differences between House and Senate discretionary funding levels. The Senate determined allocations for the 12 fiscal year 2013 spending bills based on an overall discretionary spending level of $1.047 trillion set in the 2011 debt limit law.