North Central PA Times

Rep. Michael Stender of Montour and Northumberland counties attended a joint session of the General Assembly where Governor Josh Shapiro presented his budget proposal for the 2025-26 fiscal year. Following the presentation, Stender released a statement expressing his concerns about the governor's plan.

"The governor’s address marks the beginning of Pennsylvania’s annual budget process, and I look forward to working alongside my colleagues in the House to develop a responsible spending plan that propels our state forward without burdening taxpayers," Stender stated.

He raised issues with the proposed 7.5% increase in spending, noting that revenue collections are only expected to grow by 2.5%. "At $51.47 billion, this budget would deplete our budget surplus of $2.89 billion by the end of this fiscal year and take money from our Rainy Day Fund as well," he added.

Stender emphasized that "the Commonwealth simply cannot sustain this level of aggressive spending" and expressed hope for a more thorough analysis in the coming months to make informed decisions.

The governor's address is just the start of Pennsylvania's annual state budget process. The House Appropriations Committee will begin hearings on Tuesday, February 18, to scrutinize details of Shapiro's plan and evaluate how state departments are utilizing their funds. The General Assembly and governor have until June 30 to finalize the budget.