Pennsylvania lawmakers pass nearly $48B budget, includes new plan for school safety

HARRISBURG, Pa. — The Pennsylvania Senate passed a $47.6 billion budget Thursday night, nearly two weeks into the fiscal year which began on July 1.

The plan does not increase sales or income tax rates and requires $3 billion in surplus cash to balance. This will leave more than $10 billion in reserves.

“It’s really a good product and gets a lot of things done to address the issues facing Pennsylvanians,” said Rep. Nick Pisciottano, D-Allegheny County.

The plan comes with a 6% increase and most of the new money is going to public schools and human services.

Public schools will see an additional $900 million for instruction and special education, as well as hundreds of millions more in new subsidies for school construction. It will also go to tuition for private and cyber charter schools, AP reports.

As part of the budget’s school code, districts across the state will now be required to have at least one district staff member trained to use a firearm. They will not be required to carry one.

House Appropriations Committee Chairman Jordan Harris, D-Philadelphia, said the budget reflects a strong moral compass.

“This budget makes one of the most historic investments in what is our most valuable resources, and that is our children,” Harris said.

Nursing home operators will get a slight increase in rates. Counties will see a $20 million increase for mental health services.

Gov. Josh Shapiro originally proposed a $48.3 billion plan, which included $280 million in additional funds for public transit, a 20% increase. Republicans agreed to $80 million.

“We had to work really hard to come to some kind of compromise. Nobody loves everything in these bills on either side of the aisle. We found an area in most places where we could tolerate and we could live,” Sen. Kim Ward, R-Westmoreland County, said.

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