Jul. 13, 2016
HARRISBURG – Pennsylvania residents will not face a broad-based income or sales tax increase under a 2016-17 state budget and revenue package that has passed the House, said Rep. Tedd Nesbit (R-Mercer/Butler), who supported the measures.
The $31.6 billion budget invests $200 million more in basic education, with another $25 million increase for special education, and keeps spending in check for other state government priorities.
“For the second year in a row, my colleagues and I have fought off the governor’s request for billions more in broad-based taxes, because our residents cannot afford those types of tax hikes,” Nesbit said. “No one wanted a repeat of last year’s budget impasse, and I wasn’t willing to allow senior centers and schools to close because we were unable to reach a middle ground. We were sent to Harrisburg to make the tough decisions, not the easy ones. While this product isn’t perfect, it does represent a taxpayer-friendly compromise.”
In public safety, the budget also sets aside funding for three new classes of state police troopers to make up for an upcoming gap, along with $15 million more for addiction services to help combat the growing heroin and opioid epidemic. State police funding is critical to rural areas, including the 8th District, since many municipalities do not have their own police forces.
Nesbit pointed out that many of the budget’s line items are being funded at the same levels or slightly less than the 2015-16 budget.
The budget proposal is balanced using a tax amnesty program, liquor privatization, tobacco-related taxes and proceeds from expanded gaming.
“Every day, Pennsylvania families are faced with the rising costs of their expenses, looking at their spending and deciding how much more they can afford,” Nesbit said. “This budget reflects that philosophy, and most importantly, does so without passing the burden through higher income and sales taxes. This isn’t a perfect budget but is one I could support.”
The budget became law on July 11, and the revenue plan, along with associated other bills, is headed to the governor’s desk.
Representative Tedd Nesbit
8th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Jennifer Keaton
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