Burns: New state budget ‘a huge win’ for Cambria County
Martella’s Pharmacy and revitalization efforts to benefit from Burns’ clout; no-tax budget doesn’t take one penny from Rainy Day Fund
Rep. Frank Burns July 12, 2026 | 4:48 PM
Harrisburg, July 12 — Cambria County stands to gain significantly from a new state budget approved by the General Assembly today after state Rep. Frank Burns won two major provisions to aid local revitalization efforts and help a local pharmacy chain that has been fighting to keep filling prescriptions.
Burns, D-Cambria, said he supported the budget deal because it includes his provision to create the first-ever Residential Revitalization Keystone Opportunity Zone specifically for rebuilding blighted local properties by offering state tax abatements. Three hundred acres will be devoted to Cambria County, with 50 of those in Johnstown, and local municipalities will be able to identify blighted properties and apply for the program.
A recent email Burns recieved from Johnstown City Manager Art Martynuska outlined the severity of the blight problem in the city; he cited 304 non-commercial buildings that need to be torn down, 147 of which should be torn down soon. The total demolition costs would come to more than $3.9 million, and Martynuska asked for any assistance or direction.
Burns said, “This new Residential KOZ will incentivize private investors to remove blight and rebuild neighborhoods. Once a municipality identifies a property for the program, someone could purchase it and rebuild new housing, receiving a 10-year state tax abatement. The goal is to encourage investment in our region, while eliminating blight and cleaning up our communities.”
Additionally, Martella’s Pharmacy, which has been battling a massive pharmacy benefit manager over its ability to fill prescriptions, will be able to reapply for reinstatement into its network. The budget package includes specific language that allows an eligible pharmacy to reapply to their network after 12 months have lapsed since their termination.
Martella’s has been locked in a contract dispute with pharmacy benefit manager Express Scripts Inc., which decided last year to terminate Martella’s from its network. That move has required many local residents to fill prescriptions elsewhere for them to be covered by Medicaid and other insurance plans.
“A years’ worth of effort is about to pay off, as I demanded a fix for Martella’s pharmacy be included in this year’s budget, protecting one of our area's oldest businesses and the 300 people they employ, not to mention the thousands of patients that will now be able to return to the pharmacy they love,” Burns said.
Because Martella’s is in good standing with the State Board of Pharmacy and the federal Drug Enforcement Agency, Burns sees no reason why Martella’s shouldn’t be reinstated after being able to reapply. Current law requires a managed care organization or pharmacy benefit manager to contract with any pharmacy that’s willing to agree to the terms, standards and rates they establish.
“Sometimes it feels like David-versus-Goliath,” Burns said. “But I fight for our community no matter who we’re up against, because it’s the right thing to do.”
Burns added, “People want solutions, and that’s what I’m delivering. Because of my negotiating efforts, we’re helping to clean up blight in our communities while replenishing our housing stock with new, modern homes. We’re also protecting one of our area’s oldest, most valued businesses and the 300 people they employ, not to mention the thousands of patients who can keep returning to the pharmacy they love.”
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“People want solutions, and that’s what I’m delivering. Because of my negotiating efforts, we’re helping to clean up blight in our communities while replenishing our housing stock with new, modern homes. We’re also protecting one of our area’s oldest, most valued businesses and the 300 people they employ, not to mention the thousands of patients who can keep returning to the pharmacy they love.”
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Burns also pushed for a budget that avoided any tax hikes and avoided any withdrawals from the state’s Rainy Day Fund while also devoting more to schools, including a total of nearly $6.3 million to school districts in the 72nd Legislative District. State police and the Attorney General’s office will also benefit from more funding to fight and prosecute crimes.
“I’ve never voted to raise taxes on the people I represent,” Burns said. “With my vote today, I stuck to my record while also managing once again to help our schools, law enforcement, and other top priorities for the people of my district.”