Jul. 08, 2022
HARRISBURG—Rep. Todd Stephens (R-Montgomery) joined a bipartisan majority of House colleagues in passing a budget for the 2022-23 fiscal year that increases funding for education, supports our most vulnerable citizens, improves public safety and protects taxpayers.
“This is a responsible budget that increases funding for our schools, dedicates funds to public safety and sets aside money for future budget challenges, all without raising taxes,” Stephens said.
The new budget sets a record high of $15 billion for PreK-12 education, and funds basic education at more than $7 billion, all without increasing taxes.
Local school districts will receive the following increases in basic and special education funding:
• North Penn- 22.2%
• Hatboro Horsham-14%
• Wissahickon- 18.7%
• Upper Dublin- 11%
Overall, the budget increases basic education funding by $750 million. That includes increases to early childhood education by $60 million for Pre-K Counts and $19 million for Head Start supplemental assistance, an increase of $100 million in special education funding for a total of $1.3 billion and a $6 million increase for career and technical school funding.
The budget also includes a $100 million increase in funding for school safety and security, and another $100 million for school mental health initiatives through the School Safety and Security Formula.
With gun violence on the rise, the budget allocates $50 million for gun violence investigation and prosecution grants and dedicates $20 million for domestic violence centers and provides $105 million for violence intervention and prevention programs.
To reduce the trend of increasing crime and diminished local law enforcement capacity, local police and law enforcement will also benefit from $135 million for local law enforcement support grants.
The budget also funds the Pennsylvania State Police to train 200 additional troopers to protect communities throughout the state.
We also included money to take care of those with intellectual disabilities, allowing services for over 800 additional people living with intellectual disabilities who are waiting for services.
The budget also allocates $100 million to the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources for its “State Parks and Outdoor Recreation Program” for grants which focus on parks and related infrastructure.
We were also able to preserve $5 billion in the General Fund for use in future budgets, and we deposited another $2.1 billion into the Rainy-Day Fund for a historic $10 billion total available revenue next year. This leaves $10 billion available to protect taxpayers should the economy take a downturn in the future.
“We are funding today’s needs and providing critical support for our most vulnerable, while preparing for the fiscal challenges of the future,” Stephens said.
Representative Todd Stephens
151st District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: David Foster
267.207.0207
dfoster@pahousegop.com
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