Salisbury votes ‘yes’ on 2024-25 state budget, says plan will bring powerful change to public education funding, boost affordable housing

Rep. Abigail Salisbury    July 12, 2024 | 2:15 PM

HARRISBURG, July 12 – State Rep. Abigail Salisbury cast a “yes” vote Thursday for Pennsylvania’s new $47.6 billion spending plan, saying it will dramatically change the way the state funds its public schools while also bolstering important resources like affordable housing.

“The new budget invests $1.3 billion for public education and more than $500 million to address the deficit caused by chronic underfunding of districts, including many schools in our own district,” Salisbury said. “With those investments, we can finally begin to change the dynamic for millions of students who have faced a disadvantage from the moment they set foot in the classroom. The new plan will allow us to start leveling the playing field for those students while also offsetting rising property taxes – all without taking funding away from any other school district.

“Critically, the new plan addresses the damaging impact cyber charters have had on our public school budgets by changing the way those charter schools are funded and returning more of that funding back to our brick-and-mortar schools.

“The budget also invests in ways to make higher education more affordable for students – a commitment that’s critical if we’re going to encourage new generations of young adults to stay, build lives in the state and contribute back to the economy. Right now, our students carry the third-highest debt burden in the nation, making college more of an impossible dream than an attainable goal for many. Increased investments in our state schools and community colleges can begin to change that.”

Salisbury also cited her support for the budget’s investment in affordable housing and other key programs.

“The budget boosts funding to important programs that will help expand affordable housing, provide rental assistance to low-income families, help folks remain in their homes and avoid eviction, and help people experiencing homelessness,” Salisbury said. “Other investments will boost public safety. New funding will bolster our nonprofit security grant program and will allow us to create an Allegheny County-based Urban Search and Rescue Team to bring life-saving resources to our region quickly in a disaster.”

Salisbury said the new spending plan will also boost job growth and economic development through increased investments in key industries like agriculture, tech and manufacturing, and provide new funding to boost “shovel-ready” building sites.

“To be sure, no budget is perfect, and any plan requires some measure of compromise,” Salisbury said. “But I was confident in voting for the new plan because it includes the investments we need to spur jobs, boost quality of life for residents and – most importantly – finally begin fairly funding our schools.”