Just three months ago, state lawmakers passed Pennsylvania\u2019s 2025-26 fiscal budget, and now budget season is already back in Harrisburg.<\/p>\n
On Tuesday, Governor Josh Shapiro delivered his 2026-27 budget address to the PA General Assembly, proposing a $53.2 billion spending plan across the Commonwealth.<\/p>\n
Across Pennsylvania, there are 67 counties and more than 2,500 municipalities looking for a piece of that money, and Shapiro said there\u2019s plenty in store for Erie.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a community that means a lot to me. They\u2019ve had my back, I\u2019ve got theirs, and we\u2019re going to continue to make investments and this budget does just that,\u201d said Shapiro. \u201cI know Erie has lost some businesses over the last 20 years or so. We\u2019re working very, very hard to turn that around, and I think we\u2019re beginning to see some really positive signs with our economic growth.\u201d<\/p>\n
Shapiro noted Erie\u2019s importance in the manufacturing and tourism industries, and said his budget invests money into local fire departments, mental health services, the CRIZ program and more.<\/p>\n
Shapiro proposes $53.2 billion budget, Erie residents look for housing affordability <\/a><\/p>\n Another focus of the governor\u2019s budget is public education, and as Erie schools have been struggling with funding, he said he wants to continue to drive dollars to the school districts that need them most.<\/p>\n \u201cErie schools will receive in my budget $354 million, and to give you some context, that is $76 million more than the day I took office,\u201d said Shapiro. \u201cA strong foundation in public education is the key to creating opportunity for our young people.\u201d<\/p>\n Shapiro\u2019s budget isn\u2019t final yet, and the process toward finalizing a budget will take deliberation and compromise from both sides of the aisle.<\/p>\n Last year, it took state lawmakers four months to finally pass a budget, impacting funding for dozens of organizations across Pennsylvania, and many legislators are looking to pass a budget sooner rather than later.<\/p>\n For one local state representative, he said he\u2019s prepared to get it done on time and supports Shapiro\u2019s proposal and what it could mean for Erie.<\/p>\n \u201cYou name it, this budget has it for people, whether you\u2019re in communities like Erie, or bigger cities like Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, or any rural communities out there, this budget has something for you,\u201d said Ryan Bizzarro<\/a>, PA State Representative (D). \u201cI am happy to be supportive of this budget, and there is no tax increases here, and I think that is very important as we move forward.\u201d<\/p>\n Changes proposed to Pennsylvania\u2019s minimum wage <\/a><\/p>\n For Senator Dan Laughlin<\/a>, the governor\u2019s proposal sounds some alarms.<\/p>\n \u201cGovernor Shapiro\u2019s budget spends too much, relies on unapproved revenues, and steers the state closer to a massive tax increase,\u201d said PA Senator Dan Laughlin (R), \u201cEnacting his 5.4% spending increase would take more money from families still struggling with inflation.\u201d<\/p>\n The senator said republicans will continue to hold the line for a fiscally responsible budget, and Shapiro said discussions with Republican legislators have already begun.<\/p>\n \u201cCompromise is tough. It shouldn\u2019t take that long, but it is something that we recognize is going to be critically important for us to do again, but to start a whole lot earlier. To that end, I invited all of the leaders, Republicans and Democrats alike, to my office today to start that process,\u201d said Shapiro.<\/p>\n Shapiro\u2019s full budget in brief can be found here<\/a>, and the official press release can be found here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.<\/p>\n