Budget Season Arrives At State Capitol

June 3, 2024 4:50 am

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania lawmakers are returning to session to begin a four-week countdown to the state government’s new fiscal year. Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro and Republican lawmakers have competing visions for how to use the massive surplus. Shapiro has floated an admittedly “ambitious” $48.3 billion budget plan that would highlight boosting public-school funding. Republicans have said the governor’s plan would put the state on course to drain its $14 billion surplus. Instead, they passed a $3 billion tax-cutting plan that Democrats say would have a similar effect. This month might also feature debates over competing plans to boost college enrollment and affordability in Pennsylvania.