Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro released his 2024-25 budget proposal in Harrisburg Tuesday.
The budget doesn’t raise taxes and Shapiro claims that if ever proposal is funded, the state will still have an $11 billion surplus.
Some of his proposals include:
The Democrat is calling on the state legislature to legalize recreational marijuana.
A topic that has long been at an impasse between state lawmakers, Shapiro pointed to surrounding states that have already made the change.
In Tuesday's budget address, he said Pennsylvania is leaving money on the table and he wants to see a bill on his desk to make it happen.
“That bill should ensure that the industry is regulated and taxed responsibly, that we create jobs and build wealth here in Pennsylvania, especially in communities that have been disproportionately harmed by criminalization,” said Shapiro.
He estimates legalizing recreational marijuana would bring over $250 million in annual revenue to the state.
Shapiro also wants to raise the minimum wage as part of this year's budget.
Pennsylvania's $7.25 an hour is the smallest minimum wage compared to all its surrounding states.
Shapiro said it's losing the state opportunity and it's time to catch up.
“We have seen proof that Pennsylvania workers living in border counties would rather drive into another state for work so that they can earn a higher wage than take a job at home in Pennsylvania,” said Shapiro.
The governor is pitching a major investment in public transit.
He proposed $1.5 billion in public transit across the state over the next five years - calling it the first major investment into public transit in over a decade.
“Public transit provides freedom and opportunity, it makes us competitive and it helps sell our commonwealth to others,” said Shapiro.
The projected $48.3 billion budget includes a proposal that would send $40 million to Pittsburgh Regional Transit this year alone.
He also wants an overhaul of funding for state colleges.
To bolster students continuing through post-secondary, Shapiro’s budget allots an extra $200 million for the state’s higher education institutions, an acknowledgment that Pennsylvania lags nearly every other state in funding higher education.
Shapiro told the Big K Morning Show on Wednesday; the plan includes a reimagined state-owned higher education system that distributes aid based on transparency and performance-based measures.
“Instead of giving these colleges a blank check, we are proposing what is called performance or outcome-based funding so now we’re going to say to these schools, we’re going to give you that dollar, but only if you meet certain metrics,” Shapiro said on KDKA Radio.
The plan would combine PASSHE schools and community colleges in the hopes they share resources and become more competitive.
Some of the other proposals include investing in public education, agriculture, housing, expanding child care tax credits, reducing medical debt, combatting gun violence, investing in police and first responders, and more.
Republican response
Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward says the budget proposal increases state spending by $3.2 billion.
In a statement, the Westmoreland County Republican says the "budget proposal reflects an undisciplined strategy that lacks accountability... and would lead to significant tax increases.”