Culver Votes for Timely State Budget, With No New Taxes
HARRISBURG – On Wednesday, the House approved the state budget plan for 2018-19, and Rep. Lynda Schlegel Culver (R-Northumberland/Snyder) voted in favor of the measure. The plan prioritizes education, public safety and fiscal responsibility. After the vote, Culver made the following statement:
“This budget is on time and appropriately funds core government services for some of our most vulnerable citizens, therefore allowing contractors, counties and local government officials to avoid potentially harmful impacts. The plan does not raise taxes or create new ones and makes significant investments in education at all levels.
“Basic education funding was increased by $100 million, early childhood education funding is up $25 million and special education funding is up $15 million, and we set a new record-high investment of $12.3 billion for preK-12 education. An additional $30 million was made to prepare students and workers for in-demand jobs.
“In an effort to protect our state’s largest industry, agriculture, a new $3 million line-item will help to combat the spotted lanternfly, which poses a significant threat to many Pennsylvania agriculture commodities. And in an effort to protect our community and our most vulnerable citizens, emergency medical service agencies throughout Pennsylvania that have been struggling to do more with less will receive an additional $4 million in funding.”
The budget spends $32.7 billion and represents a 1.7 percent increase over the current fiscal year budget, which is below the rate of inflation. This budget is the result of prudent spending, an improved economy and responsible policies. For the first time since 2006, money is being set aside in the state’s surplus fund.
More information on the state budget is available here.
Representative Lynda Schlegel Culver
108th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Krisinda Corbin
717.705.2032
kcorbin@pahousegop.com
LyndaCulver.com /
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