Takac: Budget invests in better jobs, schools, communities; represents progress, building a solid foundation
Rep. Paul Takac July 6, 2023 | 2:01 PM
HARRISBURG, July 6 – Following the PA House’s bipartisan approval of the state’s 2023-24 budget, state Rep. Paul Takac described the budget as making critical investments that will lead to better jobs, better schools and better communities.
The House passed the budget Wednesday by a vote of 117-86, following a compromise with Gov. Josh Shapiro and the Senate. It includes more than $45 billion appropriated for fiscal year 2023-24.
“The budget represents the bipartisan work and negotiations between House Democratic Caucus leadership, Senate Republican Caucus leadership and Governor Shapiro,” Takac said. “I applaud the governor for working with House leadership by agreeing to issue a line-item veto on the proposed school vouchers.
“While the new state budget is a compromise, it makes critical investments that will get us closer to fulfilling our constitutional obligation to properly fund public schools,” he noted.
“The budget increases funding for public education by $714 million, including more than $67.6 million in Basic Education and Special Education funding for schools that serve students in the 82nd Legislative District, an increase of over $5.1 million or 8.1%,” Takac said. “With these historic investments, we are beginning to address the inequities in Pennsylvania’s school funding system, which the Commonwealth Court recently declared unconstitutional. This funding helps public schools without raising property taxes and placing the burden on local residents. However, we must continue to work to meet our constitutional obligation to fairly and fully fund our public schools so that every child has the opportunity to succeed.”
In addition to increasing funding for public schools, the state’s budget will also provide free school breakfast and expanded lunch programs, mental health services, vocational and technical education, and incentives for those who work as teachers, nurses and police officers, he noted.
Beyond education, the budget also makes significant investments in programs to help people and revitalize communities across Centre County, including an expansion of the Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program, he said.
“By expanding eligibility for PTRR, we bolster our ability to help taxpayers, especially seniors and people with disabilities, who have limited incomes and rely on these funds to stay in their homes,” Takac said.
In addition to investments in public education and expanding PTRR, the budget also establishes state funding for the Whole Home Repairs Program and invests in new programs, such as a Fresh Food Financing Initiative that will increase access to nutritious food, as well as community support and revitalization programs in the Department of Community and Economic Development.
The budget now advances to Shapiro, who indicated he will sign it after issuing a line-item veto of a proposed $100 million program for private school vouchers.
Takac noted that while the General Appropriations portion of the budget is complete, work continues to finalize fiscal code bills and appropriations for state-related schools, including Penn State University.
“No budget is perfect, but this advances many of the key policy objectives and priorities of House Democrats,” Takac said. “It represents progress, building a solid foundation that my Democratic colleagues and I intend to build on in years to come.”