Feb. 04, 2025
HARRISBURG – Rep. Gary Day (R-Lehigh) attended a joint session of the General Assembly at which Gov. Josh Shapiro presented his budget proposal for the 2025-26 fiscal year. Day issued the following statement in response to the governor’s plan:
“Gov. Shapiro has outlined a budget that includes a 7.5% increase in spending, while revenue collections are only projected to grow by 2.5%. At $51.47 billion, this budget would deplete our state’s surplus of $2.89 billion by the end of this fiscal year and would also require drawing from our Rainy Day Fund. While we understand the governor’s aspirations for Pennsylvania, this proposal places significant pressure on future budgets and fiscal sustainability.
“There are several aspects of the proposal that I support, including funding for firefighters, state police cadets, Pre-K programs, and Career and Technical Education (CTE) schools. These are all important initiatives that I believe will benefit our communities. However, we must also recognize the long-term implications of this budget and take a closer look at its overall impact.
“Right now, this budget appears to be more of a wish list, and while it includes valuable investments, we must also ensure that we remain focused on the taxpayers of Pennsylvania. The proposed spending is substantial, and we must be cautious not to grow government faster than the private sector can sustain. Our priority must be to foster an environment where taxpayers and private sector jobs thrive.
“It’s time for legislators to thoroughly review this budget proposal, with the best interests of taxpayers in mind. We must make fiscally responsible decisions to ensure that the tax burden remains low and that future generations are not burdened by unsustainable spending.”
The governor’s address is just the beginning of the annual state budget process. The House Appropriations Committee will conduct a series of hearings starting Tuesday, Feb. 18, to examine the details of the governor’s plan and how state departments and agencies are spending their funding. The General Assembly and governor face a June 30 deadline to finalize the budget.
Representative Gary Day
187th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives