Pennsylvania remains without a budget as tensions in Harrisburg grow.
On Tuesday in Harrisburg, the Republican-controlled Senate passed two budget bills that clashed with ones passed earlier in the summer by the Democratic-controlled House.
The state’s budget is over one month late with no end of debate in sight.
One of the bills passed in the Senate was the General Fund appropriations bill, totaling $47.6 billion. The House passed a version of the bill in July that came in about $3 billion higher.
The other bill passed on Tuesday would fund mass transit with $292.5 million allocated this year, and $300 million next year with funds from a transit trust fund. Republicans argued the trust fund was largely unused, while Democrats said it was needed for transit capital projects.
House Democratic leaders immediately issued statements rejecting both bills.
Governor Josh Shapiro and majority leaders are continuing to engage in closed-door budget negotiations as the state continues without one in place.
Neither chamber of the state legislature is set to return to session before September.
A main concern with the late budget is the start of the school year in the Commonwealth. Public schools have authorized their own budgets but will be beginning the school year without the funds they are counting on from the state.
Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward of Westmoreland County argued the Senate’s passed budget bill would move funds to schools, hospitals, and human service agencies.
Republican Appropriations Committee Chairman pointed out that the state takes in about $45 billion in revenue yearly, yet the General Fund bill passed in the House in July included spending of about $50.6 billion.
SEPTA, the state’s largest transit agency, is planning to cut 20% in services at the end of August due to a shortage in state funding.
Senator Jay Costa of Allegheny County, the top Democrat in the Senate, said negotiators need to return to the table to “find the sweet spot” between the spending bills passed by the House and Senate.
Manuel Bonder, spokesperson for Governor Shapiro, issued a statement before the final vote on the budget bill in the Senate.
“This is clearly not a serious, long-term proposal that can pass both chambers,” he said.
