HARRISBURG – Republican representatives Tina Pickett (R-Bradford/ Sullivan/ Susquehanna) and Clint Owlett (R-Tioga/ Bradford/ Potter) joined a majority in the state House on Friday in adopting a $39.78 billion budget for the 2021-22 fiscal year that calls yfor no tax increase and increases education funding to without raising taxes while making a record deposit into Pennsylvania’s Rainy Day Fund.
“Just as important as what the budget DOES include is what it DOESN’T,” said Owlett. “The huge income tax increases, energy taxes and higher overall spending the governor sought back in February were soundly rejected by the House, as were his plans to charge communities for using the state police and increasing the minimum wage.
“We started with the governor’s proposal back in February that proposed increasing taxes by $7 billion with a 46% hike in the state income taxes and ended with a spending plan that raises no taxes,” added Pickett. “We also were able to set aside an additional $2.5 billion in Pennsylvania’s Rainy Day Fund for next year’s budget.”
Watch video of Rep. Pickett’s comments on the budget.
“This budget protects our taxpayers and plans for the Commonwealth’s future,” added Owlett. “Thanks to one-time stimulus funding, we are seeing a healthy surplus in sales tax revenue but we know it’s not going to last because our Personal Income Tax collections are flat.”
The new budget includes a $13.55 billion for PreK-12 education. Pickett noted school districts in Bradford County are allocated the following amounts of basic education funding:
* Athens Area – $12.2 million, a funding increase of $439,235 (3.7%).
* Canton Area – $7.4 million, a funding increase of $297,915 (4.2%)
* Northeast Bradford – $6.1 million, a funding increase of $87,990 (1.5%).
* Sayre Area – $6.5 million, a funding increase of $191,490 (3.1%).
* Towanda Area – $7.6 million, a funding increase of $624,481 (9%).
* Troy Area – $9.5 million, a funding increase of $201,786 (2.2%).
* Wyalusing Area – $7.2 million, a funding increase of $135,966 (1.9%).
“In these types of negotiations, everyone does not get everything they want,” Owlett said. “While I was happy to see the cuts the governor made to our agriculture budget restored, I am committed to working to further support our state’s top industry and the hard-working men and women who help keep food on our tables.”
