The following statement was issued today by David M. Sanko, executive director of the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors (PSATS), in response to Gov. Josh Shapiro’s proposed 2025-26 state budget:

“While Gov. Shapiro called for hundreds of millions of dollars in new spending for PennDOT, it is disappointing that townships were left with no new transportation dollars, despite local governments managing and maintaining more roads than the state.

“But housing is a priority to Harrisburg, and townships have been at the forefront of housing decisions for decades across the commonwealth, repeatedly showing the ability to adapt zoning uses to accommodate growth and housing trends in rural, suburban, and urban markets.

“Locally elected officials know their communities best, and these elected officials work with planners to address the unique needs of their communities, while ensuring residents achieve the safe quality of life with the affordability they expect when they decide to invest in a community.

“We applaud the governor for his desire to work with local governments to address housing-related issues and for his understanding that one-size-fits-all solutions do not work in a state as diverse as Pennsylvania that experiences different challenges by community, area, or region.”