Siegel issues statement following budget passage
Northeast Delegation July 7, 2023 | 2:39 PM
HARRISBURG, July 7 – State Rep. Josh Siegel issued the following statement about the final passage of the 2023-24 state budget.
“This budget was nowhere near perfect. This is true of many budgets. However, one thing this budget does well is the education spending increases for all school districts across the commonwealth, including Salisbury and Allentown.
“When we increase education spending for communities, it not only shows the families of the kids who go to school that we have their best interests at heart, but it also shows that we want to take an active role in their success, which is one of our duties as lawmakers. Increased education spending is important more than ever before since Judge Renée Cohn Jubelirer’s ruling that Pennsylvania’s school funding system is unconstitutional. This budget gives more money to poorer school districts, giving them the ability to get closer to achieving equitable academic experiences.
“These education spending increases will benefit my community as Allentown City School District is receiving an 11.7% increase in funding compared to last year and Salisbury Township School District is receiving a 10.7% increase. Much like every school district, these kids are deserving of better opportunities, and this funding will go toward giving them that. It’s important to remember that the more we invest in our younger generations, the more likely they are to have the opportunity to lead us into the future equipped with the skills and the competence to do so, and I feel the version of the budget that I voted for was in the best state it was going to be to do that.”
“This is the second-largest increase for education ever.
“This budget also made other historic investments, including $40,000 in violence prevention; we enacted an expansion of the Whole-Home Repairs Program; provided funding for indigent defense; and expanded the Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program that helps our seniors on a fixed income. They will no longer be penalized for increases in their Social Security income. This expansion would increase the maximum rebate from $650 to $1,000 and raise the income cap to $45,000, making 150,000 more Pennsylvanians eligible for the program for the first time.
“Additionally, taxpayer dollars should never fund private schools, which is why I am proud that the House Democrats stuck together and defeated the PASS vouchers.
“While we didn’t get everything we wanted in this budget, it is important to remember that this is one budget out of many and there will be more budgets in the future that allow us the opportunity to fight for more. It is also important to remember that the budget isn’t where the fight for the people of this Commonwealth ends. My colleagues and I will continue to propose legislation that aligns with the values that we all share for better jobs, better schools and better communities.”