Highlights From PAs 2024 Budget
On Thursday, Gov. Josh Shapiro signed a $47.6 billion budget package, marking a 6.2% increase in spending. The budget allocates more funding for public schools, Community College students, and human services.
Despite being approximately $700 million less than Shapiro’s previous budget proposal in March, the plan includes funding for key initiatives such as a strategic economic plan and increased funding for public transit.
Since my first day in office, I’ve been focused on getting stuff done for the good people of Pennsylvania, solving the most pressing problems we face, and bringing people together in a bipartisan manner to deliver results – and I’m proud to sign this budget into law that makes historic investments in education and economic development, while continuing investments in public safety and violence prevention, all while cutting costs and reducing taxes,” said Governor Josh Shapiro.
Here are some of the key highlights of the state’s new budget:
No new taxes
$1.11 billion increase for Pre-K to 12th-grade education funding which includes:
$526 million increase for Ready to Learn
$285 million increase in basic education funding
$100 million increase for special education
$100 million in NEW funding for cyber charter transition
$38 million to support teachers and address teacher shortage pipeline
$30 million increase for Career and Technical Education
$100 million for public school facility improvement grants
New $30 million investment for menstrual hygiene products in school to address period poverty
Over $15 million increase for Community College
$15.6 million increase for anti-violence investments and after-school programs
$20 million for student-teacher stipends. This is a 100% increase from last year.
Over $140 million for grants, scholarships, and other programs to make higher education more affordable in PA
$70 million for attainable house initiatives through the PHARE Housing Program
$20 million increase for county-based mental health services
$7 million increase for Workforce Development
New $2.5 for legal services in eviction proceedings
$161 for Public Transportation and Multimodal Projects
$261 increase for Intellectual Disabilities Community Wavier Program
Over $26 million increase for subsidized childcare services
New $6 million for Urban Search and Rescue in Western PA
$36 million increase for Neighborhood Assistance Program
$5 million increase for Homeless Assistance
Over $2 million increase for Domestic Violence Prevention
$5 million increase for Non-Proffit Security grants
$7.5 million for indigent defense
Over $550 million in economic development programs through the Department of Community and Economic Development
$75 million for skilled nursing facilities over base investments to ensure staffing requirements are met and services maintained
Over $25 million to support state parks, forests, and protect the environment
Funding almost 400 more new PA State Police troopers