After transforming the state’s budget from a severe shortfall to a record surplus over seven years, Governor Tom Wolf today outlined his vision for a generational investment in education and to raise wages, attract innovative industries and create good jobs that will make Pennsylvania an even better place to live and work.
While this is his final budget speech before the General Assembly, Governor Wolf said he plans to spend every day continuing to fight for Pennsylvanians and deliver key budget priorities that will have long-lasting impacts on our commonwealth and its citizens.
“These are days of opportunity for our commonwealth,” said Gov. Wolf. “That’s because, at long last, our fiscal house is in order. Over the past seven years, we’ve turned a $2-3 billion structural budget deficit into a $2-3 billion budget surplus. We’ve built our Rainy Day Fund to more than $2.8 billion—more than 12,000 times what it was when I took office.”
Thanks to Governor Wolf’s commitment to fiscal responsibility prior to and despite federal funding for pandemic relief, Pennsylvania has forged a new path forward. Governor Wolf will be the first governor since Dick Thornburgh, who left office in 1987, to turn over a budget surplus to his successor.
“We are no longer digging out of a hole. We’re ready to build. And this year’s budget does exactly that, by making new investments that will build a brighter future for Pennsylvania families,” Gov. Wolf said.
The governor delivered his annual budget address today to a joint session of the House and Senate.
Continuing to Invest in Students and Good Jobs
Governor Wolf has kept his promise to provide historic support of public education and this budget builds on that strong foundation with an additional $1.9 billion to benefit students from pre-k through college.
Early Education
Governor Wolf understands children in high-quality pre-K programs do better in school, are more likely to graduate, and earn more throughout their lives compared to kids without early learning programs. Over seven years, the number of young children in Pre-K Counts and Head Start has more than doubled and the governor is proposing additional investments so more young learners can start kindergarten ready to thrive.
- $60 million increase for Pre-K Counts allowing 2,308 more young children to attend early education.
- $10 million increase for the Head Start Supplemental Assistance Program to assist with rising costs.
Generational Investments in K-12 Schools
During his term, Gov. Wolf has reversed funding cuts and made historic investments of nearly $1.4 billion in public …….