General Assembly Adopts Responsible Budget, Causer Says

HARRISBURG – The General Assembly on Sunday approved a $28.376 billion state budget that is fiscally responsible and includes no new or increased taxes, said Rep. Martin Causer (R-Turtlepoint). 

“In the face of yet another challenging budget year, we have focused on getting spending under control and supporting core government services,” Causer said. “We owe it to the taxpayers to invest their money wisely in priorities such as public education, public safety and the overall betterment of our communities. This budget achieves that goal.”

State funding for K-12 education reaches a record high $10 billion in this budget, with an increase of $122 million alone for basic education. The Accountability Block Grant program, which provides flexible funding for schools, continues with $100 million in funding for the coming fiscal year. The budget also includes $8.5 million for safe schools initiatives, $864,000 in funding for the Science in Motion program and $2.3 million for Community Education Councils.

For higher education, the state system schools are receiving the same amount of funding as the 2012-13 fiscal year, while the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford will see an increase of $217,000 for total funding of $2.3 million. 

To boost public safety, the budget includes additional funding for state police and funding for the Office of Attorney General to support local drug task forces, child predator interception units and mobile street crimes units.

To support Pennsylvania communities, the budget includes $6.8 million for critical access hospitals; $20 million to reduce the waiting list for services for people with intellectual disabilities; $8.4 million for county conservation districts; and $350,000 for hardwoods research in the Department of Agriculture budget. 

For more information about the state budget, visit www.RepCauser.com.