ALLENTOWN, Pa, - Allentown School District would see an additional $34.5 million under the Pennsylvania House budget bill passed Monday night.
The state House of Representatives approved its $45 billion general fund budget along party lines. Democrats hold the chamber by one vote. The proposed spending plan invests an additional $1.7 billion in education funding, including $100 million more for basic education and $50 million more in special education funding over the governor's recommended levels. It would also resume funding for the Level Up program, which provides money to the 100 poorest districts in the commonwealth, adding about $225 million to Level Up. It also dedicates $250 million for school modernization.
- The House version of the state budget increases overall education spending over Shapiro's budget by $1.7 billion
- It passed the House by a one-vote margin
- The measure now heads to the Senate
Rep. Mike Schlossberg, D-Lehigh, represents Allentown and Parkland school districts. He said under the House budget plan, Allentown would see a $17.9 million increase in basic education, $13.8 million in Level Up and $2.8 million in special education.
“The budget that we passed Monday is a win for Parkland and Allentown where school leaders have consistently identified areas where they can better serve our students if Pennsylvania provides the resources to help them thrive in the classroom and the community."Rep. Mike Schlossberg D-Lehigh in a writtn statement
Parkland could see $2.7 million more under the House’s budget. It would get $2.4 million more in basic education dollars and a boost of $394,575 in special education money.
“The budget that we passed Monday is a win for Parkland and Allentown where school leaders have consistently identified areas where they can better serve our students if Pennsylvania provides the resources to help them thrive in the classroom and the community,” Schlossberg said in an emailed statement.
“Homeowners and small-business owners have asked for tax relief after years of state level-funding resulting in increased local school taxes. This budget would allow leaders to grow the number of teachers in our schools, and better support student achievement and mental health,” Schlossburg said.
Gov. Josh Shapiro proposed spending about $1 billion on education this fiscal year — with $567 million in basic education funding. His recommended budget did not add new Level Up funding.
“House Democrats today completely broke with their governor, Josh Shapiro, by gutting his budget and replacing it with a bloated spending plan that reflects their unilateral priorities."House Republican Leader Bryan Cutler, R-Lancaster, said in a statement.
House Republicans called the budget “unsustainable.”
“House Democrats today completely broke with their governor, Josh Shapiro, by gutting his budget and replacing it with a bloated spending plan that reflects their unilateral priorities,” House Republican Leader Bryan Cutler, R-Lancaster, said in a statement.
“While Gov. Shapiro’s budget was bad enough, Democrats today have increased spending and raised taxes, bloated state government, and rammed through a massive and unsustainable spending plan with only six hours for lawmakers and the public to read it,” Cutler said.
The budget is now before the state Senate, which is controlled by Republican lawmakers. The two chambers will attempt to hammer out a compromise, along with input from the governor's office, that Shapiro will sign into law.
A final budget is due by June 30.
