Local, state officials discuss state budget wins for county, city
Newly enacted state budget makes major investments in education, communities
Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus July 18, 2024 | 1:31 PM
PITTSBURGH, July 18 – After the passage last week of a new bipartisan state budget that makes important investments in education, communities, economic development and families, local and state officials including Lt. Gov Austin Davis, Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato and Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey gathered Thursday at the Office of Mayor Ed Gainey to talk about how the budget will impact Pittsburgh and Allegheny County.
“The state budget that was enacted last week is a bipartisan plan that works for people, delivers on promises that were made and lays the foundation for success for all Pennsylvanians and here at home in Allegheny County,” said Rep. Dan Miller, D-Allegheny and House majority whip. “I want to thank Gov. Josh Shapiro and Lt. Gov. Austin Davis for their work on this budget. Compromise is the nature of the day, and while this budget may not include everything we may have wished, it lays a sound foundation and I am proud of the work our leadership team has done to make sure it invests not just in schools and jobs, but in families and communities as well.”
The 2024-25 state budget makes historic investments in education, locally providing a 10% increase in state funding for K-12 public schools in Allegheny County – an estimated additional $62 million in state funding headed to public schools in the region.
Additionally, the budget also provides $6 million to fund an Urban Search and Rescue team in Allegheny County; creates the Longtime Owner Occupant Tax Exemption Program; extends $150,000 for Allegheny County Library Association operational support; and includes over $11 million in transit funding.
In terms of economic development, the budget also provides for the creation of the $500 million Pennsylvania SITES program to help redevelop old industrial and aging infrastructure to attract new businesses or help existing companies grow and invests $20 million in the Main Streets Matter program to encourage local and small business development.
Allegheny County leaders worked closely to pass the budget, to make sure it included major investments not just across the commonwealth, but also in Allegheny County.
“I am delighted to be joining fellow leaders from Pittsburgh and Allegheny County to celebrate the incredible victories we delivered for the working families who call this place home,” said Senate Minority Leader Jay Costa, D-Allegheny. “We invested unprecedented dollars into delivering excellent public schools and universities, good jobs and economic development through Main Street Matters and PA SITES, community safety, safe and affordable homes, and critical care services for our elders and neighbors with intellectual disabilities and autism. I’m so proud of the work we accomplished in this budget, and I look forward to seeing these dollars get put to work right here in our communities.”
The state budget has garnered support from others outside of government as well. Matt Smith, chief growth officer of the Allegheny Conference on Community Development, said, “The passage of this state budget is a tremendous win for the Pennsylvania business community and underscores our elected officials’ dedication to growing the economy, competing for jobs, and making Pennsylvania competitive for investment,” Smith said. “Included in this year’s budget are several priorities that align with the conference’s 2024-2026 agenda and will advance the southwestern Pennsylvania region -- specifically, the $500 million investment in the Pennsylvania Strategic Investments to Enhance Sites program, improving the net operating loss structure, material improvements to our state’s permitting system, and establishing framework for carbon capture and sequestration. These priorities, along with the continued phasedown of the corporate net income tax rate, streamlined government processes and a comprehensive, statewide economic development strategy, will continue to create a more favorable business climate throughout the commonwealth.”