The budget hearing schedule in the state legislature ended in early March, and three months later, leaders in the General Assembly are within thirty days of the budget deadline. A new plan for fiscal 2025 must be in place by June 30th, according to the state constitution. Whether or not that can happen is the problem. The current fiscal year’s budget was not finalized until December.
Governor Josh Shapiro has proposed a $48.3 billion budget. Shapiro wants to use a portion of the state’s $14 billion surplus to revamp education spending, public transportation, and other priorities, while Republicans want to see a cut in the state’s income tax and end a tax on electric utilities’ profits, thereby reducing customers’ electric bills.
As Senator Joe Pittman puts it, the people of Pennsylvania have been given a “false choice” that claims “there’s too much money in the savings account and therefore we need to spend it.” He says there’s a better choice: “Let’s give it back to the people.” The Senate has passed a bill cutting personal income taxes from 3.07 percent to 2.8 percent. The last time it was that low was in 2003.
Budget negotiations got underway again in the middle of last month. Both the House and Senate are in session this week, with full schedules.
