Feb. 06, 2018
HARRISBURG – Rep. Tarah Toohil (R-Luzerne) and other members of the House of Representatives, along with members of the Senate, today heard Gov. Tom Wolf’s spending proposals for Fiscal Year 2018-19 during his annual budget address to legislators.
The governor’s proposed budget totals $33.1 billion, which is a $1.1 billion increase over the current year. He called for an additional $225 million in education spending, including more funding for basic, early and special education. The proposal does not include any broad-based tax increases but does seek to impose a severance tax on the natural gas industry.
Toohil issued the following statement regarding the governor’s budget proposal:
“I like the idea of spending additional dollars for our children’s education, especially for early learning programs which would receive $40 million more in the governor’s proposal. But at the same time, I am disappointment there is no investment in Pennsylvania’s community colleges, which play an important role in providing career training.
“There also needs to be some accountability and modernization of our schools, and not just more money thrown at a problem. We are striving to strengthen our education system by ensuring that the money we spend helps to achieve positive outcomes for Pennsylvania’s students.
“I am disappointed the governor has decided to eliminate funding for a number of important agricultural research programs, but am confident we will be able to restore the allocations, as we have in previous years, to continue the state’s investment in our No. 1 industry.
“Today’s address was only the beginning of the budget process. It is now time for the General Assembly to get to work and craft a more reasonable and responsible budget than what the governor is proposing. I look forward to finalizing a spending plan before the June 30 deadline.”
The House Appropriations Committee is scheduled to begin three weeks of budget hearings on Feb. 20.
Representative Tarah Toohil
116th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Contact: Rep. Toohil’s Office
717.260.6136
RepToohil.com /
Facebook.com/RepToohil