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Local legislators laud new state budget

By Mike Tony mtony@heraldstandard.Com 4 min read
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Camera Bartolotta

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Walsh

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Warner

Pennsylvania’s 2019-20 fiscal year began Monday with a $33.9 billion state budget package approved by local General Assembly members last week that holds the line on taxes, enhances aid to public universities and students seeking higher education and bolsters the state’s budgetary reserve while not increasing the minimum wage.

The state’s projected 1.8% spending increase covers a 13.7% increase in grants to students through the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency, a 2% increase in funding for the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (which includes California University of Pennsylvania) and upticks ranging from 2% to 3.5% for Pennsylvania’s four other state-funded universities (the University of Pittsburgh and Pennsylvania State, Temple and Lincoln universities).

The budget also includes funding increases for other educational line items, including career and technical education equipment grants (a 117.6% surge) and job training and education programs (a 19.7% hike).

Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf announced he would make a $330 million deposit into the state’s Rainy Day Fund, increasing its total to more than $350 million overall.

Area state representatives and senators made statements hailing the budget for swelling the fund.

“While each budget season can certainly pose its challenges, we have delivered a solid, responsible and comprehensive budget which sets us on a strong path for future growth and prosperity,” Rep. Pam Snyder, D-Jefferson, said.

“Passing an on-time, responsible budget is one of the key duties of the Legislature. I take this task very seriously and remain committed to spending tax dollars in the most prudent way possible,” Rep. Justin Walsh, R-Rostraver Township, said.

Rep. Ryan Warner, R-Perryopolis, called the spending package a “solid budget,” adding that he was especially pleased by increased investments in career and technical education and agriculture, noting a new $4.5 million agricultural business and workforce investment.

The budget increases agriculture spending by 12.8%.

“Most importantly, it does not increase any existing taxes or pose any new taxes on hard-working Pennsylvanians,” Warner said.

Rep. Matt Dowling, R-Uniontown, praised the budget, saying it was an example of House Republican fiscal restraint that has put Pennsylvania on the path to better protect taxpayers and welcoming the coming growth for the state’s Rainy Day Fund.

Dowling noted that the budget raises the cap for the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program by $25 million but criticized Wolf for recently vetoing legislation passed by the House and Senate, both Republican-controlled, that would have raised the EITC cap by $100 million and included an escalator for future years.

The EITC provides eligible businesses with tax credits for contributions to educational improvement or scholarship organizations.

Dowling also cheered the budget for not including state police assessment fees for “our struggling rural municipalities.”

Wolf had previously called for a fee for municipalities that do not have a local police department and rely solely on state police for local police coverage.

Sen. Camera Bartolotta, R-Carroll Township, applauded the budget.

“As Chair of the Senate Labor and Industry Committee, I place a high priority on helping more Pennsylvanians train for high-paying, family-sustaining jobs, and this budget represents a strong leap forward toward that goal,” Bartolotta said.

Bartolotta said the budget meets what she called “pressing needs” in local communities, including funding to address heroin and opioid addiction, rape crisis and domestic violence services and more money for education at all levels.

The budget includes a 1.7% increase for drug and alcohol programs and 10% increases for domestic violence and rape crisis line items.

But the budget does include decreases for several human services, including a 21.4% decline in child care assistance and elimination of the state-funded Department of Human Services General Assistance program, which has served certain individuals who do not qualify for the federally- funded Temporary Assistance for Needy Families benefit and meet specific criteria such as having a medically verified permanent or temporary disability.

Ending General Assistance drew the ire of Senate Democrats, resulting in raucous interparty fighting in the chamber last week.

All eight senators who voted against the budget’s final passage were Democrats.

The budget does not increase Pennsylvania’s minimum wage, which at $7.25 will remain lower than any of the states that border Pennsylvania, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

The budget also does not impose a tax on Marcellus Shale natural gas drilling to fund a $4.5 billion borrowing plan that Wolf had proposed to invest in broadband expansion, flooding prevention and blight demolition and redevelopment.

Wolf said in a statement Friday that he would keep “fighting tooth and nail” for a higher minimum wage and pushing for infrastructure funding.

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