Jun. 20, 2018
HARRISBURG – Rep. Tarah Toohil (R-Luzerne) today 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 now goes to the Senate for consideration.
Toohil issued the following statement regarding the proposed spending plan:
“This budget continues our work of the last three years, which has benefited Pennsylvania’s economy and taxpayers. By holding the line on taxes, we have been able to keep government spending under control without placing a heavier burden on hard-working families. Because of our fiscal restraint, we have been able to erase a $2 billion deficit and put money into the Rainy Day Fund for the first time in more than a decade.
“Education is one of our priorities and this budget raises funding for public, charter and private/parochial schools to record levels. Every school district in the 116th Legislative District will receive a funding increase under this proposal.
“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. In addition, there was $25 million added to a program that allows for school choice.
“I am especially pleased we were able to include a $60 million initiative to ensure our students have a safe learning environment. School districts will be able to use the funding for resource officers, metal detectors, safety assessments and other building upgrades.
“I look forward to the plan’s quick passage by the Senate and its signing by the governor, before the June 30 deadline to have a state budget in place.”
Representative Tarah Toohil
116th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Contact: Rep. Toohil’s Office
717.260.6136
RepToohil.com /
Facebook.com/RepToohil