Governor Shapiro’s Second Budget Proposal

By Trish McFarland, President of the Delaware County Chamber of Commerce

​On Tuesday, February 6th Governor Josh Shapiro proposed his second budget plan.  The Governor highlighted education funding, increasing minimum wage, higher education reform, legalization of recreational use of marijuana, and economic development, amongst other items, in his $48billion proposal.
 
“Ohio has one-and-a-half million fewer people than Pennsylvania, yet they’ve invested over seven times more in economic development than we have. And you know what, their investment is paying off. And I’m sick and tired of losing to friggin’ Ohio! We need to catch up,” stated Governor Shapiro.
 
Shapiro continued, “This year, we have a real chance to build safer communities, become more competitive economically, and invest in our students and their success – and this budget lays out a comprehensive and aggressive focus on doing just that without raising taxes and maintaining a surplus of $11 billion at the end of June 2025,” said Governor Josh Shapiro. “Since my first day in office, I’ve been focused on getting stuff done – and this budget will continue to create opportunity for every Pennsylvanian with historic investments in economic development, education, healthier and safer communities, and much more. I look forward to working with the General Assembly to continue to get stuff done for the good people of Pennsylvania, solve the most pressing problems we face, and meet this moment responsibly and with bipartisan compromise.”

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​Links to Budget, Overview, Executive Budget, and Proposed Budget Line-Item Sheet. Items of note:
 

• $500 million in bond funds to expand PA SITES, supporting on-site development in priority industries
• $25 million for Main Street Matters
• $20 million to support large scale business innovation
• $18 million for tourism and business marketing
• $3.5 million for the PA Regional Economic Competitiveness Challenge
• $10 million for environmental permitting streamlining and IT modernization
• $283 million for investment in mass transportation through additional
• SUT transfer to the Public Transportation Trust Fund
• $283 million for investment in mass transportation through additional
• SUT transfer to the Public Transportation Trust Fund
• $2 million to support internships at PA-based businesses
• $1.072 billion increase in basic education funding
• Maintain $7 million for dual enrollment programs
• $2.4 million for Career and Technical Education
• Establishes a new higher education system with unified governance for PASSHE universities and Community Colleges
• Invests $194 million for higher education
• $30 million to the Fire and Emergency Medical Services Grant Program, addressing the recruitment, retention, and equipment needs crisis
• $2.5 million for the Energy Programs Office to leverage federal funding in support of planning and environmental justice initiatives
• $4 million for medical debt relief for low-income Pennsylvanians