Jun. 30, 2016
HARRISBURG—Rep. Todd Stephens (R-Montgomery) joined a bipartisan majority of his colleagues in passing a budget for 2016-17 which increases funds for education without raising taxes.
The $31.5 billion budget, which now goes to the governor, provides a 4.8 percent increase over the current fiscal year’s budget, but spends within available revenues without relying on new sales or income taxes. State education funding will reach $11.7 billion—a 6 percent increase over 2015-16.
“We have once again held the line against proposals to increase the sales and income taxes on working families,” Stephens said. “This budget spends nearly $2 billion less than the governor’s proposed $33.3 billion plan. This budget expands our commitment to education without placing an undue burden on the taxpayers of Pennsylvania. It continues my commitment to finding more funding without broad-based tax hikes.”
In total,
Senate Bill 1073 dedicates $660 million in new funding for Pre-K through 12th-grade education.
These investments to schools include:
• A basic education increase of $200 million.
• An increase in Pre-K Counts by an additional $25 million.
• An increase of $5 million in Head Start Supplemental Assistance.
• Special education will see an increase of $20 million.
• PSERS will increase $345 million.
“I urge the governor to sign this budget into law,” Stephens said. “It’s the responsible thing to do.”
Representative Todd Stephens
151st District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: David Foster
dfoster@pahousegop.com
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