Harrisburg – June 27, 2019 – Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, Jr. voted in support of the Fiscal Year 2019-20 General Appropriations budget which is now headed to Governor Tom Wolf’s desk; Senator Costa looks forward to returning to session in the fall to tackle unfinished business.

“This year we passed a responsible budget that funds some of our top priorities, including investments in education from early learning through our institutions of higher learning, as well as funding for school safety and anti-violence initiatives,” said Senator Costa. “But we left much undone. We should have increased the minimum wage about the poverty-level of $7.25 per hour, done substantive work on renewable energy standards, and instituted a tax on natural gas drilling.

 

“I’m not calling this budget mission accomplished; I’m calling it mission begun. We’ll be back in the fall to tackle these policy initiatives that we know have the support of the majority of Pennsylvanians.”

The final budget passed the Senate with a bipartisan vote of 42 to 8; it spends a total of $33.997 billion, and the process included a variety of other legislative pieces.

One of the biggest bipartisan, bicameral accomplishments was the creation of a state exchange for health insurance. It will strengthen health care in Pennsylvania and reduce health care premiums by as much as ten percent. 

In the “Code” bills that provide the mechanism to disburse funds from the budget, there was an increase of $15 million to the Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement Fund (PHARE) to assist with the creation, rehabilitation and support of affordable housing; $5 million for the Film Tax Credit that incentivizes the movie industry in Pennsylvania; and $1 million to the mixed-use tax credit for construction and rehabilitation projects.

As part of the budget package, the General Assembly also passed a Farm Bill that added $1.5 million to the Agriculture Excellence program, increased the Nutrient Management fund by $3.5 million, boosted PA Preferred by $2.6 million, and added $250,000 to the Agriculture Promotion, Education and Exports initiative to expand hemp farming.

A G.I. Bill was also part of the package of legislation and will expand benefits to the family of members of the Pennsylvania National Guard.

Other highlights of this budget include:

Basic education

  • $160 million increase to basic education funding (K-12 public schools)
  • $50 million increase to special education funding
  • $25 million increase to for Pre-K Counts
  • $15 million increase in Early Intervention initiatives
  • $5 million increase to Head Start funding
  • $500,000 provided for capital and maintenance costs for the Pennsylvania Chartered Schools for the Deaf and Blind

Higher education

  • $37 million increase for student grants
  • A 2 percent increase in funding for state-owned PASSHE schools, state-related universities, community colleges and related appropriations under the Department of Agriculture

Human services funding:

  • A 10 percent increase for domestic violence and rape crisis programs
  • $8 million increase to day-one incentive payments for nonpublic nursing facilities
  • $2.6 million funding increase for additional inspections and licensing of personal care homes
  • $5 million for expansion of home visiting programs
  • $518,000 increase to services for the visually impaired

Home and community care investments:

  • $23 million to provide services to an additional 1,380 people with physical disabilities
  • $17.1 million to provide Attendant Care to 40 people through the Department of Aging and 840 people through the DHS
  • $15 million to move people with intellectual disabilities off of waiting lists
  • $3.5 million to provide services to an additional 300 seniors through LIFE programs
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The Office of the Attorney General received $1 million in additional funding for general operations as well as:

  • $5 million for Drug Law Enforcement (including local Drug Task Forces and Strategic Response)
  • $2.5 million for the Joint Local-State Firearm Task force
  • More than $1 million for School Safety and the Safe2Say program

More information on the budget, as well as video reactions from members of the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Caucus can be found at www.pasenate.com/budget 

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