West Chester, Pa – State Senator Carolyn Comitta today issued the following statement in response to Governor Wolf’s 2022-2023 budget proposal:
“Pennsylvania is at a unique moment in history. As we continue to manage the public health, economic, educational, and community impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, for one of the first times in memory we look to the upcoming budget year with remarkable promise and potential.
Thanks to federal American Rescue Plan funds, sound fiscal management, and higher than expected revenues, the Commonwealth is projected to end this fiscal year with a nearly $6.4 billion surplus. Today, the governor presented his 2022-23 budget proposal.
Some of the highlights include:
Investments in Education:
- A $1.55 billion increase in funding for basic education
- Including $300 million in Level Up funding to the 100 highest‐need school districts
- A $200 million increase for special education.
- More than $70 million in additional funding for early childhood education programs.
- A more than $180 million increase for higher education programs to freeze tuition, support scholarships, and make college more affordable.
- $1 million to establish the Hunger-Free Campuses Initiative, which I have introduced in the Senate.
- And a $500,000 increase for the “It’s On Us” campaign to combat sexual assault on college campuses.
Investments in Public Health, Mental Health, and Human Services:
- A nearly $37 million increase in county mental health funding to support critical behavioral health services.
- $50 million to increase supplementary payments for personal care homes to invest in support services.
- Nearly $19 million to provide services to individuals with intellectual disabilities on the emergency waiting list
- $15 million to expand access to evidence-based home visiting programs.
- And strong investments in our public health infrastructure, substance abuse treatment providers, suicide-prevention programs, and staffing at skilled nursing facilities.
Investments in Our Environment:
- $450 million in federal funding for Growing Greener III to establish vital conservation, recreation, preservation, and community revitalization projects and address the threat of climate change.
- An increase of $2.5 million for the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to support park staffing and outdoor management, recreation, and safety.
- $5 million in funding for a new program to protect forest health and an additional $3.5 million to support agricultural health.
- An additional $5 million for the Department of Environmental Protection to fund new positions supporting clean water, waterways, and wetlands.
- Plus, a significant infusion of new federal funds for DEP from the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act for orphan well plugging, energy programs, electric grid resilience, energy efficiency and conservation, abandoned mine reclamation, and assistance for environmental justice communities.
Today, we have an unprecedented opportunity – one that calls for bold, sustained, and smart investments in our future.
The proposed budget does not raise taxes. It also calls for cutting the corporate net income tax rate from 9.99 percent to 7.99 percent next year and even further in upcoming years, with a path to 4.99 percent. I strongly support these investments to address our needs today and the challenges of tomorrow.
As we officially begin the 2022-23 budget process, Pennsylvania is on solid fiscal footing. It is time for us to come together and invest in the future. I look forward to working with my legislative colleagues to come together and make investments that prepare Pennsylvania students, workers, families, and communities to be stronger, healthier, and more prosperous future for generations to come.”