A $33.9 billion Pennsylvania budget was approved on Friday without a tax increase, and local legislators are pleased with the final package.
“The 2019-20 State budget makes important investments in crucial programs across our state, while also respecting taxpayers,” said state Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati, R-Brockway. “We were determined to deliver an on-time, balanced budget with no-tax increases.”
Scarnati praised passage of the budget, citing the record level of state funding for public education, limited spending and no-tax increases. In addition, the budget does not include a fee for state police coverage in rural areas of the state.
“Our fiscally responsible budgeting over the past years has helped to foster a stronger economy and has even allowed us to save $300 million in the rainy day fund this year. Taxpayers and families set aside money for tough times, and it’s the responsible thing for the state to do as well,” Scarnati stated.
State Rep. Martin Causer, R-Turtlepoint, was pleased with the spending package as well.
“I really think it’s a good budget for rural Pennsylvania,” he said. “It’s very reasonable, very responsible.”
Both legislators commented on the largest-ever state investment in public education. The new state budget calls for $12.8 billion in education funding, with an increase of $160 million in basic education funding, an increase of $25 million in pre-K spending, a $5 million increase in special education spending and a $15 million increase in early intervention services.
“An investment in education is an investment in our future,” Scarnati said. “Students must have the tools necessary to compete and succeed in today’s workforce.”
Causer explained the additional funding was possible because of the strong economy.
“We have increased revenue coming into the state from a strong economy,” he said. “Revenue came in over what it was estimated to be. It was far enough over estimate that we were able to make this investment in education” and put money into the Rainy Day Fund.
Higher education is also a priority in the budget, the legislators said. Funding for state-related universities, the PA State System of Higher Education and community colleges will increase by 2 percent.
Scarnati said he was instrumental in securing $7 million for the Northern Pennsylvania Regional College’s general operations; $3,346,000 for the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford’s general operations and $900,000 for renovations to Galeton Dam.
“I am confident that this budget will set our state on a path toward more quality jobs, better government, and safer schools. Rural Pennsylvanians deserve to be treated equally and receive our fair share of funding. I am very pleased that this budget invests so much in our region,” Scarnati said.
Of the Pitt-Bradford funding, Causer said, “It will help as we move forward with the engineering programs out there that they are working to develop.”
Causer lauded, too, the increase in funding for agriculture in the state budget.
“The agriculture budget went up almost $20 million,” he said. “I think that will really grow agriculture in the state.”
