State spending on tech initiatives has grown nearly 38 percent over the past five years, according to analysis from pjmathison, a technology and business consulting firm. The state spent about $1.6 billion on tech initiatives in fiscal year 2008 and it spent about $2.1 billion in fiscal year 2011. Pjmathison did not have estimates on total 2012 tech spending.
As for Corbett’s proposed $27 billion budget, some programs important to business will see cuts while others see increases. Here are highlights of the pjmathison report:
• $500,000 for broadband outreach and aggregation fund, a 72 percent slash in allocation for the program that expands broadband Internet access to rural parts of the state.
• $23 million, a 33 percent cut, to Ben Franklin Technology Development Authority, which funds the Ben Franklin Technology Partners to help tech and manufacturing companies grow.
• $29.1 million to Department of Banking, a nearly $8 million increase.
• $3.35 million for the Department of Agriculture, down from $4.9 million this year.
• A $1 million cut to the Department of Community and Economic Development for tourism marketing for a total of $3 million.