South Lancaster News

HARRISBURG – Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward (R-39), Majority Leader Joe Pittman (R-41), and Appropriations Committee Chair Scott Martin (R-13) announced the approval of a fiscally responsible 2024-25 state budget today. The budget, which amounts to $47.59 billion, is $740 million less than the proposal presented by Gov. Josh Shapiro in February and allocates $740 million to the state’s Rainy Day Fund.

The budget includes measures aimed at boosting Pennsylvania’s economy, such as continuing to phase out the Corporate Net Income Tax and initiating the process of eliminating the Start-Up Penalty. "The governor and House Democrats started this budget process calling for unicorns and rainbows in the form of new spending on radically progressive programs," Ward said. "Instead, Senate Republicans prioritized funding for programs that are showing results."

"This budget is built on two fundamental principles – honesty and empowerment," Pittman stated. "It empowers parents to make decisions to benefit their children, job creators through permitting reforms, law enforcement to maintain law and order, and taxpayers with $700 million more committed to our Rainy Day Fund."

"I am thankful we reached a budget agreement that recognizes the need to address Pennsylvania’s economic and demographic challenges in the years ahead," Martin said. He emphasized that the Grow PA plan included in the budget will help young people train for high-demand careers while taking on less debt.

The Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) Program will receive an additional $75 million, bringing its total funding to a record $630 million. K-12 education funding will increase by over $1 billion, including new allocations for Basic Education subsidy ($285 million), Ready to Learn Block Grant program ($526 million), and school facility improvements ($100 million).

School districts will see reduced cyber charter school special education costs of approximately $34.5 million through a state-funded reimbursement system. The Grow PA post-secondary education plan includes scholarships of $5,000 for students enrolled in high-demand programs who agree to live and work in Pennsylvania after graduation.

An additional $25 million is allocated for career and technical education programs. Transportation infrastructure funding continues with an additional $80.5 million earmarked for road and bridge repairs.

New funding includes county mental health services ($20 million), nursing facilities rate increases ($134 million), intellectual disability/autism services ($278 million), LIFE providers ($16.7 million), nursing facilities care reimbursement from day one ($11 million increase), and services for an additional 1,500 Pennsylvanians with intellectual disabilities/autism ($76 million).

The Clean Streams Fund receives an allocation of $50 million for water quality improvements, while avian influenza prevention gets a new Agricultural Innovation and Development program funded at $10 million.

A new Streamlining Permits for Economic Expansion and Development (SPEED) Program will establish permit review timelines by DEP and conservation districts along with a new permit tracking system.

The Attorney General’s Office will receive nearly $5 million in new funding targeting human trafficking ($1 million), organized retail theft ($2.7 million), and appointing a special prosecutor for crimes on SEPTA properties ($1.2 million).