The Pennsylvania Senate has passed a $47.9 billion budget proposal that conspicuously leaves out a vital $565 million increase designated for the state’s most underfunded schools. This vote occurred a significant 113 days after the original June 30 deadline, and it stands in contrast to a House budget proposal of $50.25 billion that did include this essential funding.
The Senate’s budget garnered approval primarily along party lines, immediately triggering strong condemnation from Democrats. They argue that this omission directly ignores a court-mandated effort to rectify the existing disparities in public education funding. The House’s earlier plan, which had successfully secured bipartisan support, had made this funding a central component of its broader strategy for social program investments.
Court-Mandated Funding Increase Overlooked
The proposed $565 million financial boost was a direct recommendation stemming from a Commonwealth Court ruling. This ruling declared Pennsylvania’s school funding system unconstitutional, citing deep inequities that severely disadvantage low-wealth districts. This critical funding is specifically intended to support these struggling districts, many of which are situated in rural or economically challenged areas.
Minority Leader Jay Costa, a Democrat from Allegheny, vocally criticized the Senate’s plan. He strongly urged the reinstatement of the House’s October 8 proposal, which included not only the $565 million for underfunded schools but also an additional $1.3 billion for the Department of Human Services, alongside allocations for student teacher stipends, college tuition grants, and food banks.
Budget Priorities and Political Divides
In response, Senate Republican leaders staunchly defended their budget as financially responsible. They emphasized that their plan avoids any tax increases and fully funds debt service and school employee pension programs. Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman, a Republican from Indiana, stated that “the budget in front of us is a budget based on needs. It is not a budget based on wants.”
Earlier, Governor Josh Shapiro had put forth a $51.6 billion proposal that also aimed to avoid tax increases. However, his plan proposed new revenue streams from the legalization of adult-use recreational marijuana and the regulation of slot machine-like skill games, expected to generate an additional $800 million. Governor Shapiro sharply criticized the Senate’s budget, dismissing it as “a joke” that “doesn’t actually meet the obligations of this commonwealth.”
Blame and Budget Impasse
Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward, a Republican from Westmoreland, laid the blame for the budget delay squarely on Governor Shapiro, asserting that the governor had failed to unite opposing parties to finalize a comprehensive spending plan. Conversely, Elizabeth Rementer, spokesperson for House Majority Leader Matt Bradford, a Democrat from Montgomery, contended that Senate Republicans currently lack sufficient support within their own caucus to advance a budget that genuinely addresses the state’s pressing needs.
Senator Vincent Hughes, a Democrat from Philadelphia and chair of the Minority Appropriations Committee, highlighted that the state currently enjoys a $3 billion operational surplus and an $8 billion rainy day fund. He expressed frustration, stating, “We should be able to get this done. It’s 113 days late. This does not advance the bar.” Hughes further pointed out that the additional funding would directly benefit over two-thirds of Pennsylvania’s school districts, including many located in traditionally Republican rural areas.
The Senate ultimately approved their budget proposal in a 27-23 vote, but a final, comprehensive agreement has yet to be reached, leaving the state in continued uncertainty regarding its educational funding.