Shapiro Gives First Budget Address 

Gov. Josh Shapiro presented his first budget address yesterday before a joint session of the General Assembly. Shapiro unveiled a $44.4 billion proposed 2023-2024 state budget, an increase over the 2022-2023 adopted budget. Notably, the proposal does not include any new or expanded taxes or fees. It also doesn’t propose cutting funding for townships or other local governments. Legislative reaction generally saw the proposal as a starting point for budget negotiations. 

The proposal does call for expanding access and increasing benefits for low-income Pennsylvanians, such as SNAP, the Property Tax and Rent Rebate Program, and subsidized childcare and eliminating the gross receipts and sales tax on cellphone bills while increasing the 911 surcharge. In his address, Shapiro called for increases for education, increasing options for postsecondary education, more funding for mental health resources, and providing personal income tax credits for nurses, teachers, and police officers. Shapiro proposed additional funding for the Municipal Assistance Program, which can be used to provide shared services and community planning. To read the press release with links to budget documents, click here.  PSATS’ Legislative Staff will host a FREE Members-Only budget briefing tomorrow, March 9, from 2-3 p.m. to help our members understand the proposal and the effect it will have on your township. This interactive session will provide a timeline of the budget process and highlight the top issues PSATS will focus on during budget discussions in the coming months. Click here to register for the PSATS budget briefing.