Helm Supports State Spending Plan, Calling It “The People’s Budget”
HARRISBURG – Rep. Sue Helm (R-Dauphin/Lebanon) this week joined an overwhelmingly majority of her colleagues in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in passing a $32.7 billion budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2018-19 that increases education funding to historic levels while keeping spending growth below the rate of inflation and without raising taxes or fees. The budget bill is expected to be signed into law by Gov. Tom Wolf.
Helm issued the following statement regarding the proposed spending plan:
“I really call this ‘The People’s Budget,’ because we listened to the people and we did what they said.
“They wanted more money for education and we gave it to them. There is $100 million more allocated for basic education, an additional $25 million for early childhood education, while special education will increase by $15 million. In fact, this budget sets a new high of $12.3 billion for PreK-12 education.
“They wanted more money for school safety and we put it in. We committed $60 million that school districts can use for resource officers, metal detectors, safety assessments and other building upgrades.
“They wanted more money for the opioid crisis and we included it. The budget includes funds to provide evidence-based home visiting services to 800 families affected by the drug epidemic.
“They wanted more money for people with disabilities and they have that. There is money in this budget to provide services to an additional 965 individuals with intellectual disabilities or autism currently on the waiting list. Funding is also allocated for home and community based services to an additional 5,230 seniors and those with physical disabilities.
“I’m very happy with this spending proposal and I think the people of Pennsylvania should be very proud of it.”
To view a video of Helm’s budget comments,
visit here.
Representative Sue Helm
104th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Andy Briggs
717.260.6474
abriggs@pahousegop.com
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