Groups in Pennsylvania are lauding and criticizing passage of the 2022-23 state budget.
“The impact of the new state budget passed by the General Assembly cannot be overstated in its importance to our environment, open spaces and natural resources, and for the economies that benefit from our state’s clean waters and healthy lands,” said PennFuture President and CEO Jacquelyn Bonomo.
“This is a spending plan that includes a total of $884.75 million for clean water, land conservation, infrastructure, parks, energy efficiency, and forests investments, and is truly generational funding for Pennsylvania.
Specifically, the budget includes $696 million for the new State Parks and Outdoor Recreation Program – formerly known as the Growing Greener program – as well as new funding for water infrastructure and the new Clean Streams Fund. “This is a truly monumental investment in our parks and green spaces, on our trails and waterways, and in communities across the commonwealth,” Bonomo said.
This budget also includes an increase of $63.75 million for critical agencies like the Department of Environmental Protection, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, the Department of Agriculture, and the commissions that are tasked with protecting and preserving our river basins.
”PennFuture is thrilled that the budget includes $125 million for the Whole Home Repairs Act, which creates a one-stop shop for home repairs and weatherization while building out our workforce and creating new family-sustaining jobs. This legislation will also cut emissions and foster more energy efficiency in homes across Pennsylvania,” Bonomo said.
On behalf of its 36,000 members and 64 locals, Arthur G. Steinberg, president of AFT Pennsylvania (American Federation of Teachers) on Friday issued a statement in response to the passage of the Fiscal Year 22-23 Pennsylvania Budget.
“The budget passed more than a week after the start of the fiscal year by the Pa. House and Senate provides welcome increases in basic education, special education, community colleges, and state college and university funding, but far from the figures proposed by Gov. Wolf. At a time when our commonwealth holds a more than $13 billion surplus, it is inexcusable not to make the long-overdue investments in Pennsylvania’s future,” Steinberg said.
“Additionally, this budget, and especially the accompanying education code bill provide an astonishing $395 million in tax breaks to wealthy individuals and corporations; a 41% increase. This means $395 million taken from future K-12 public education funding—particularly at a time when students are struggling to recover from the pandemic and those who have the least need more supports.
“Finally, it is deeply disappointing, while shoveling so much money out the door to private, for-profit, and religious institutions, that this budget package does nothing to reform or create accountability for those schools, which would put them on even a fraction of the level of scrutiny to which traditional public schools are subject.
“It’s worth praising an increase in public education spending, but we have so much further to go to ensure an equal education for every child in Pennsylvania.”
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