HARRISBURG - Reps. Kurt Masser (R-108) and Lynda Schlegel Culver (R-107) both voted in favor of the state's $28.376 billion budget on Sunday.
"This budget marks the third consecutive year that Pennsylvania's state spending plan was passed on time, something that was never accomplished under the previous administration," said Masser. "Once again, this year's budget contains no tax increases, and still provides for core government services, such as education, public safety and health and human services."
The 2013-14 budget includes a $122 million increase in funding to our state's basic education system - establishing a record high of $10 billion total state dollars invested in K-12 education.
"The most state money ever appropriated to Pennsylvania's basic education system is included in this year's budget," said Masser. "This budget not only replaced the $1 billion worth of federal stimulus money Pennsylvania's education system lost, but we're now spending more than $10 billion on education, which equates to 41 percent of this entire budget."
Additionally, the funding schools will receive includes $3 million for grants to career and technical schools to purchase new equipment so the Commonwealth can expand career and technical education opportunities, and funding for the Safe Schools Initiative.
"This budget supports students of all ages," said Culver. "By continuing the governor's increase of $6.4 million for Head Start and Pre-K Counts early childhood programs, and providing $5 million more for services to children ages 3 to 5 with developmental disabilities, our youngest students are included in the benefits this budget provides."
This spending plan increases funding in the Department of Health by $1.5 million for items like cystic fibrosis, hemophilia and epilepsy technology research. It also continues the $50 million in additional lottery funds for expanded home- and community-based services for senior citizens, and adds $10 million for long-term senior care - items that they both fought for during this budget season.
The county conservation districts will receive a total of $8.4 million through a combination of General Fund appropriation and Act 13 impact fees. This is a $2 million increase from last year's budget. An additional $4.6 million was allocated to the Department of Agriculture, and restores funding for agriculture research, the Pennsylvania Preferred program, and other department associated programs.
"With agriculture being our state's No. 1 industry, I was glad to see funding go toward that important issue," said Culver. "I believe this is the best budget agriculture has seen in many years."
"Because I served on the County Conservation Board for seven years, I am very familiar with the vital services they provide to our residents," said Masser. "This was one of the issues important to me that we adequately funded this program and that this budget addressed this."
The Pennsylvania State Police was provided an additional $14.7 million, which will aid in the training of 290 new state troopers and 90 civilian dispatchers.