The Pennsylvania Senate has approved a budget bill aimed at providing immediate funding to counties, school districts, hospitals, and other organizations across the state. Senate Republican leaders announced that the measure would release critical funds from the commonwealth without delay.
In addition to the budget bill, the Senate passed legislation designed to boost investment in transportation infrastructure and mass transit throughout Pennsylvania. The funding for these projects will primarily come from the Public Transportation Trust Fund, according to Senate leadership. The new law is also intended to improve safety and accountability within the state’s mass transit systems.
“Today the Senate passed a responsible short-term budget that immediately releases funding for schools, nursing homes and human services while also advancing a comprehensive transportation plan that supports mass transit and roads. Our proposal exceeds Gov. Josh Shapiro’s plan using only existing funds,” said Sen. Ward. “Pennsylvania is at a critical crossroads financially. Senate Republicans have put forward a solution that protects taxpayers, and Gov. Shapiro and House Democrats still have not answered what taxes are they willing to raise on Pennsylvanians.”
Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman stated, “We have been clear and unwavering in our stance that massive spending increases are not the answer for unleashing the promise of Pennsylvania,” adding, “In fact, our friends in the House couldn’t even lift the Governor’s full budget request, so that proposal is now a moot point. The House passed a $50.6 billion budget. Today the Senate Republican Majority has passed a $47.6 billion budget. In addition to a responsible budget, the Senate has approved substantial funding for transportation investments, by utilizing existing, and unused taxpayer dollars, coming in large part from the Public Transportation Trust Fund. There is a value in supporting both road projects and transit, and we have taken a substantial step to unleash those dollars to help all 67 counties across Pennsylvania.”
Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Scott Martin commented on efforts to avoid new taxes or growth in spending: “Passing a no-growth, no-new-tax budget today that reduces the Commonwealth’s structural deficit will offer a lifeline to ensure our schools, counties, service providers, and others who rely on state funding are not impacted by disagreements in Harrisburg. This year’s budget process is very complicated with multiple issues that require a great deal of work to complete. That doesn’t mean our constituents should have to struggle while we work to finalize a deal,” said Sen. Martin.
He further addressed concerns about delays: “On mass transit, tapping the Public Transportation Trust Fund instead of growing our structural deficit by giving away more of our General Fund revenue makes a lot of sense to ensure the accountability and safety reforms we are pursuing have a chance to work while we evaluate the true needs of our mass transit systems over the next two years. It is incredibly frustrating that the Shapiro Administration dragged their feet in giving us information about the fund for nearly two months and failed to identify this as a funding option sooner as mass transit systems across the state threatened service cuts.”
The proposed measures reflect ongoing negotiations between legislative chambers over how best to address Pennsylvania’s financial challenges while maintaining key public services.
