Legislative leaders in Harrisburg have reached an agreement on a $50.8 billion state budget for Pennsylvania, and local lawmakers are now reviewing the details of the spending plan ahead of expected votes this weekend.
The proposed budget represents a 1.5% increase over last year’s spending plan, with education continuing to receive a significant funding boost.
Lawmakers are expected to hold official votes on the budget Sunday afternoon, and approval appears likely.
The agreement includes increases in retirement benefits for several groups of public employees. Teachers who retired before 2001 would receive a cost-of-living adjustment to their pensions under the plan. Retired police officers and firefighters would also see increases in their retirement benefits.
The budget package would also establish new state regulations for data center projects.
Pennsylvania lawmakers were required to pass a budget by June 30 to avoid disruptions in funding for state programs and organizations. If approved this weekend, this year’s budget would be 12 days late.
While the deadline will have been missed, lawmakers reached an agreement much sooner than last year, when the state budget was finalized nearly four months behind schedule.
November elections and the summer legislative schedule may have helped motivate lawmakers to complete the budget process more quickly this year.
Two major issues, however, were left out of the spending deal. Lawmakers did not reach agreements on increasing Pennsylvania’s minimum wage or regulating skill games, leaving both topics for future negotiations.