HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHP) — Pennsylvania’s 2026-27 state budget passed through the House and Senate with an overwhelming majority on Sunday.
The budget passed a little under two weeks after the deadline, and now awaits Gov. Josh Shapiro’s final approval to be enacted into law.
READ MORE | Pennsylvania lawmakers pass $50.8B budget deal
The $50.85 billion budget is nearly $3 billion less than what Shapiro requested, but it still is about $3.65 billion over the state’s projected revenues.
For lawmakers like Rep. Steve Mentzer (R-Lancaster), that’s money well-spent.
“It protects taxpayers and preserves the state’s Rainy Day Fund while still delivering record funding for local schools and more money for infrastructure needs across the state, preserving the popular Earned Income Tax Credit and Property Tax & Rent Rebate programs, and accomplishing much more,” he said in a statement.
Rep. Dan Moul (D-Adams) echoed this sentiment, stating he supported the budget because it preserves the Rainy Day Fund and avoids broad-based tax increases.
“No budget is perfect, but this agreement is a step in the right direction,” Moul said.
Republican Rep. Catherine Wallen (R-Adams/Cumberland) said she was satisfied with how her side pushed back against Shapiro’s initial proposal.
“[$50.85 billion] represents a significant reduction from the initial request and spending in the House Democrats’ budget,” Wallen said. “It also keeps spending growth closer to the increased costs the Commonwealth is already facing.”
Rep. Tom Mahaffie (R-Dauphin) and Sen. Greg Rothman (R-34) both praised the budget for its investment in education and supporting first responders.
However, representatives like Chad Reichard, who voted against the budget, believe the state is still spending more than taxpayers can afford.
“While this budget doesn’t tap the Rainy Day Fund or raise taxes, Pennsylvania cannot continue spending beyond its means without eventually asking taxpayers to make up the difference,” Reichard (R-Franklin) said. “Pennsylvania must be on sound financial footing now, so we are on a prosperous path well into the future.”
Kate Klunk, Mike Jones, Joe D’Orsie, Wendy Fink, Marc Anderson and George Margetas, all Republican representatives from York County, said the budget is overspending.
“Although we’re pleased the legislature completed its budgetary obligation, albeit 12 days late, the finished product not only spends too much, but relies on accounting tricks to ‘hide’ or defer costs to the next fiscal year,” the Republicans said in a joint statement.
They said this budget defers payments to next fiscal year, which could set Pennsylvanians up for future tax hikes.
Rep. David Maloney (R-Berks) came down hard on the budget, accusing the assembly of “literally stealing money from our taxpayers.”
“Today, when Gov. Josh Shapiro’s 2026-27 budget was finally offered for a vote, I reminded my colleagues that while Jesse James was an unrepentant thief he would never rob on the Sabbath,” Maloney said. “With only 35 ‘no’ votes in the House, today Democrats in General Assembly have now outdone even the most famous bank robber in American history.”
Shapiro is expected to sign the budget into law Sunday evening.