Maintaining Fiscal Restraint on Government Spending

- Total spend of $32.7 billion, a 1.7 percent increase over the current year, which is below the rate of inflation.
- The national yearly change in the inflation rate is 2.13 percent. The 2018-19 state budget reflects only a 1.7 percent increase.
- This budget will also put money into the Rainy Day Fund – for the FIRST time since fiscal year 2006-07! 
- The 2018-19 budget includes no new taxes and no new fees. 

House Republicans are committed to fiscal restraint so that citizens keep more of their hard-earned money.

Conversely, since taking office in 2015, Gov. Tom Wolf has proposed increasing taxes with each of his budget proposals. His first budget proposal would have increased taxes $12.5 billion over the last three years.

Though each Wolf budget proposal has been based on increased taxes, House Republicans pushed back and rejected all of the proposed tax increases. 


Fostering a Safe Learning Environment for Pennsylvania Students

This budget creates a new, $60 million initiative to ensure Pennsylvania children are in a safe learning environment. Block grant funding will be available for:
- School resource officers;
- Metal detectors;
- School safety assessments;
- Facility upgrades and more.


Supporting Educational Opportunities at All Levels

K-12 EDUCATION
- Basic Education Funding increase: up $100 million to $6.095 billion.
- Early Childhood Education Funding increase: up $25 million to $251.5 million.
- Special Education Funding increase: up $15 million to $1.14 billion.
- Sets a Record High Investment of $12.3 billion for PreK-12 education.
- Invests additional $25 million for Educational Improvement Tax Credit.

HIGHER EDUCATION
- PA state-related universities: 3% boost.
- State System of Higher Ed schools: 3.3% boost.
- Community colleges: 3% boost.

CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION
- An additional $30 million commitment to help prepare students and workers for in-demand jobs.


Protecting Our Communities and Our Most Vulnerable Citizens

- This budget will allow the Pennsylvania State Police to train three new cadet classes, which will add an additional 285 troopers to protect communities throughout the state.
- There is an increase of $5.5 million for nursing homes rates.
- This budget includes money to take care of those with intellectual disabilities, allowing services for an additional 965 people living with intellectual disabilities. 
- This budget includes funds to provide evidence-based home visiting services to 800 families affected by the opioid epidemic.
- Emergency Medical Services agencies throughout Pennsylvania have been struggling to do more with less. The budget provides an increase of $4 million for our EMS agencies. 

Supporting Health Advances and Research

- The health line-items that the governor proposed to cut in his February budget proposal are being funded in this budget.
- There is a new Lyme Disease line-item to help combat and treat those affected by this disease.
- Bio-Technology Research, ALS Support Services, and Regional Cancer will see increases in this budget.

Protecting Pennsylvania's Largest Industry - Agriculture

- The budget plan includes a new $3 million line-item to combat the spotted lanternfly, a significant threat to many Pennsylvania ag commodities.
- Penn State Agricultural Research and Extension will get a 3% increase.
- The University of Pennsylvania Veterinary School and the Center for Infectious Disease will receive a 3% increase.

Further Investing in Care for Those Who Have Served

- Veterans Homes in Pennsylvania will receive a $5.7 million increase.
- There is an increase for educational assistance to the National Guard.
- Veterans Outreach Services will receive a 21% increase in funding.