Harrisburg, Pa (February 4, 2025) State Senator Carolyn Comitta released the following statement in support of Governor Josh Shapiro’s 2025-26 budget proposal:

“The Governor’s plan is a strong start to the 2025-26 budget process with important investments to improve affordability, job growth, education, and public health and safety.

At a time when Pennsylvanians continue to face rising consumer costs coupled with confusion and uncertainty at the federal level, this budget plan offers sound and practical strategies to foster stability and opportunity for workers and working families.

A few new investments to highlight:

  • Affordability
    • $1 billion in property tax relief ($200 average per household).
    • $10 million for first-time homebuyers.
    • Raising the minimum wage to $15/hour.
    • No tax increase.
  • Education/Childcare
    • $55 million to recruit and retain licensed childcare workers.
    • Doubling the investment ($40 million total) for student-teacher stipends.
    • $75 million increase in basic education funding.
  • Health
    • $20 million in continued additional funding for county mental health services ($60 million over 3 years).
    • $20 million for hospital patient safety.
    • $23M to support primary health care practitioners with student loan payments
  • Safety
    • $30 million for fire company grants.
    • Funding for 400 new state troops.
    • $20 million increase of gun violence prevention programs.

The Governor’s budget proposal is the starting point for negotiations and kicks off a season of budget hearings and debates.

I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to pass a budget that puts money back in the pockets of Pennsylvanians and helps ensure a safe, healthy, and prosperous future for this generation and the next one.

In an atmosphere of reckless decision-making and chaos in Washington, D.C., we must strive to pass a budget that protects Pennsylvanians by prioritizing people, prosperity, and progress for families, workers, businesses, and communities.”