Doyle Heffley
02/07/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 02/07/2024 10:39
Heffley Expresses Concern for Shapiro’s Budget Proposal and the Taxpayers
Feb. 07, 2024
HARRISBURG - Rep. Doyle Heffley (R-Carbon) attended a joint session of the General Assembly Tuesday during which Gov. Josh Shapiro presented his state budget proposal for the 2024-25 fiscal year. Heffley issued the following statement in response to the governor's $48 billion spending plan, which equals 8% percent more than the current year's spending:
"After hearing Gov. Shapiro's budget address, I am concerned with the proposal's massive spending increase. He is relying on one-time, non-reoccurring revenue from the reserve funds to fill his deficit spending. This would be a $3.7 billion spending increase. Even the Independent Fiscal Office (IFO), expressed its concerns with the governor's budget numbers, projecting larger deficits in future years, exceeding $3 billion beginning in 2025-26 if the state continues its current spending trajectory.
"There are a lot of new programs without many details behind them, programs that would increase state bureaucracies while leaving the taxpayers to bear the burden. This is another budget address full of hidden taxes and no relief for the taxpayers.
"The governor proposed more than $1 billion for higher education, but before we give more funding to college institutions, we must examine our K-12 school funding formula and provide tax relief for property owners."
The governor's address is just the beginning of the annual state budget process. The House Appropriations Committee will conduct a series of hearings starting Tuesday, Feb. 20, to examine the details of the governor's plan and how state departments and agencies are spending their funding. The General Assembly and governor face a June 30 deadline to finalize the budget.
Representative Doyle Heffley
122nd Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Huntre Keip
717.772.9837
[email protected]
RepHeffley.com / Facebook.com/RepHeffley
"After hearing Gov. Shapiro's budget address, I am concerned with the proposal's massive spending increase. He is relying on one-time, non-reoccurring revenue from the reserve funds to fill his deficit spending. This would be a $3.7 billion spending increase. Even the Independent Fiscal Office (IFO), expressed its concerns with the governor's budget numbers, projecting larger deficits in future years, exceeding $3 billion beginning in 2025-26 if the state continues its current spending trajectory.
"There are a lot of new programs without many details behind them, programs that would increase state bureaucracies while leaving the taxpayers to bear the burden. This is another budget address full of hidden taxes and no relief for the taxpayers.
"The governor proposed more than $1 billion for higher education, but before we give more funding to college institutions, we must examine our K-12 school funding formula and provide tax relief for property owners."
The governor's address is just the beginning of the annual state budget process. The House Appropriations Committee will conduct a series of hearings starting Tuesday, Feb. 20, to examine the details of the governor's plan and how state departments and agencies are spending their funding. The General Assembly and governor face a June 30 deadline to finalize the budget.
Representative Doyle Heffley
122nd Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Huntre Keip
717.772.9837
[email protected]
RepHeffley.com / Facebook.com/RepHeffley
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