Dauphin News

HARRISBURG – Sen. Chris Gebhard (R-48) has voiced his concerns regarding Gov. Josh Shapiro’s proposed 2024-25 state budget plan. Gebhard expressed his worry about the unsustainable and unrealistic nature of the budget, which calls for a more than 7% increase in overall state spending. He emphasized that such a level of new spending would require significant tax increases to balance future budgets.

One of the primary concerns raised by Gebhard is the depletion of the state's budgetary reserves, including the Rainy Day Fund, over the next five years. He highlighted the importance of these reserves, noting that their existence has led to an upgrade in the state's bond rating by Fitch Ratings, resulting in lower debt service costs for taxpayers.

Gebhard stressed the significance of the Rainy Day Fund, stating, "Spending all the reserves in our Rainy Day Fund is an extremely bad idea. Senate Republicans have fought for years to bolster our reserves, and this budget wipes out all that hard work."

Another aspect of Shapiro's budget that drew criticism from Gebhard is the proposed merger of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) with the state's 15 community colleges. Gebhard argued that the current one-size-fits-all proposal does not allow for a thorough examination of individual schools' performance. He pointed out the success of Pennsylvania's community colleges, such as RACC, and expressed concern that their unique local connections and flexibility may be compromised if they are integrated into a larger statewide system.

Furthermore, Gebhard expressed his reservations about Shapiro's plan to divert state sales tax revenues to increase mass transit funding, with Philadelphia's SEPTA system receiving a disproportionate amount of these funds.

In addition to these concerns, Gebhard also mentioned several other aspects of Shapiro's budget proposal that he considers to be unfavorable, such as the legalization of adult recreational use marijuana, continued participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), and the elimination of the Keystone Communities Program.

Gebhard concluded by stating that the conversation regarding the budget proposal is just beginning. Senate Republicans will dedicate the next few months to examining Shapiro's plan and searching for ways to achieve greater efficiencies. The Senate Appropriations Committee will commence a series of budget hearings on February 20 to study the proposal in detail.

For further information, please contact Alex Gamble.