HARRISBURG – Senate Republicans will closely examine Gov. Josh Shapiro’s 2025-26 budget plan during the next several months to find improvements that will ensure greater long-term fiscal stability for the commonwealth, according to Sen. Doug Mastriano (R-33).
The $51.5 billion budget plan Shapiro presented to the legislature today would increase state spending by $3.6 billion, an increase of 7.5% over the current year’s budget.
“Let’s be crystal clear: this type of reckless spending is not only unrealistic but also unsustainable. It places additional burdens on hard-working citizens who are already grappling with the consequences of Shapiro’s erratic energy policies,” Mastriano said.
The governor’s overly optimistic future revenue projections and wildly inaccurate future expenditure assumptions could eliminate the state’s emergency savings (also known as the Rainy Day Fund) and create the need for a multi-billion-dollar tax increase on Pennsylvania families within a year and a half.
“Shapiro’s proposal equates to impending tax hikes that most Pennsylvanians can’t afford. His approach to spending is alarming, as it seems to disregard the basic principle of fiscal responsibility. Eventually, the funds from ‘we the people’ will run dry,” Mastriano said.
During the next five years, using realistic spending and revenue estimates, Shapiro’s spending plans would leave a $27.3 billion hole in the state’s finances, Senate Republicans said.
The bulk of the new spending – about $2 billion – is proposed for human services programs. The budget also proposes to increase funding for Basic Education Funding by $75 million and the Ready-to-Learn Block Grant Program by $526 million.
“Instead of pursuing meaningful reforms for Pennsylvania’s families, Shapiro has opted to placate his political allies, directing nearly another $1 billion into public schools without insisting on improved results for our children,” Mastriano said.
The plan also includes level funding of $25 million for the Grow PA program championed by Senate Republicans in last year’s budget to help more young people attend college and complete job training programs to meet the needs of Pennsylvania’s workforce.
For the third consecutive year, Shapiro failed to include funding for Lifeline Scholarships or the Pennsylvania Award for Student Success program to help children in failing schools explore different educational options in an environment that better suits their needs.
The governor’s budget plan also did not include any new revenues or expenditures related to his new “Lightning” energy plan, leaving Pennsylvanians in the dark about how it would impact their household budgets, grid reliability or the state’s finances.
“The people of this great commonwealth deserve a governor who has their backs – not one who stands on them. Josh Shapiro, it’s time to stop the photo ops and start getting something done for the people of Pennsylvania,” Mastriano said.
Shapiro’s budget address is only the first step in the process. In the weeks ahead, the Senate Appropriations Committee will hold a series of hearings to closely examine the spending plan to determine how it can be improved. The hearings will begin Feb. 18 and run through March 6.
CONTACT: Don Beishl, 717-787-6701