PENNSYLVANIA STATE BUDGET HAS BEEN APPROVED!
A $45.55 billion budget for 2023–24 was passed by the Pennsylvania Senate on Friday; this is around $300 million less than what Governor Josh Shapiro had suggested in March.
According to reports, House Bill 611 raises Pennsylvania’s budgetary reserves to the level of the rest of the country by adding $500 million to the state’s Rainy Day Fund.
In a press release, Senate Republicans, including Majority Leader Joe Pittman, Chair of the Appropriations Committee Scott Martin, and President Pro Tempore Kim Ward, claimed that the budget “holds the line on taxes, promotes job growth, continues historic support for schools, and sets aside money to prevent future tax hikes.”
Additionally, it provides more support for bolstering the state Department of Environmental Protection’s permitting process. Senate Republicans said that the Pennsylvania state budget decreases the tax burden on some of the most impoverished populations in the state by expanding eligibility for and increasing the refunds granted under Pennsylvania’s Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program.
According to a news release from Pre-K for PA and Start Strong Dad, the Pennsylvania state budget fails to specifically address the deficit of early literacy experts. ” No brand new plutocrat was included for PA Pre-K Counts, Head Start Supplemental Assistance Program, or sweats to stabilize the child care pool,” the advertisement stated.
This implies that early literacy institutions will keep firing preceptors and closing classrooms, venturing the capacity of families to find employment. 9,000 encouragement check will be given to good resides in Massachusetts.