Day Fought for Education, First Responders and Seniors in State Budget
HARRISBURG – Rep. Gary W. Day (R-Lehigh/Berks) today in Harrisburg voted for a nearly $39.8 billion budget that would increase funding to education, first responders and seniors while avoiding a tax increase on Pennsylvanians.
“I have been committed to a balanced budget that offers Pennsylvanians the expected services our government provides, while not increasing taxes,” said Day. “We have controlled state spending, which allows us to prudently allocate taxpayer dollars, while also storing over $2.5 billion into a Rainy Day Fund to be prepared for multi-year recovery.
“Our caucus has provided an increase in education funding since my time in the Legislature and this year we have continued that action. We are increasing basic education funding in the Commonwealth by $300 million and giving more to our career and technical schools to ensure that students can learn the skills needed for today’s workforce. We have also set a record for funding preK-12 education, at nearly $13.6 billion.
“This budget also has a focus on protecting our communities. It will allow for two new Pennsylvania State Police classes and an additional $5 million in federal funds to be allocated to the Emergency Medical Services Operating Fund to continue to support all of our first responders.
“As majority chairman of the House Aging and Older Adult Services Committee, I am also thrilled to see that $282 million in federal relief funds will be going to protect our most vulnerable. It is imperative that through the recovery of the COVID-19 pandemic that we continue to take care of our most at-risk citizens and focus efforts on nursing homes, assisted living and personal care homes. This budget keeps Pennsylvania’s fiscal future secure and keeps us on the road to our economic recovery.”
For more information on the budget, please
visit here.