Tom Wolf: A budget that makes Pa. stronger

Tom Wolf

is governor of Pennsylvania

During the 2016-17 budget season, we accomplished three important priorities that I believe are critical to moving Pennsylvania forward. Working with the legislature, I secured increased funding for our schools and resources to battle the commonwealth's opioid epidemic, and greatly reduced our deficit.

Funding our schools has always been a top priority for me. In this budget, I was able to secure an additional $200 million in basic education funding, as well as a $30 million increase for early-childhood education; a $20 million increase for special education and a $10 million increase for early intervention; and a nearly $40 million increase for higher education. Working with the legislature, I have secured historic increases in less than two years:

$415 million in basic education funding.

$60 million for early-childhood education.

$50 million in special-education funding.

$14.6 million for early intervention.

$81.4 million for the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education and state-related schools.

$16.4 million for community colleges.

Specifically, the Philadelphia School District this year will receive an additional $47 million for classroom funding and more than $3.2 million in increased funding for special education. Combined with the increases secured in the 2015-16 budget, the district has received a total increase of $97 million for basic and special education in two years - and my administration will keep working to invest in Philadelphia's future.

Since I took office in 2015, Pennsylvania has not only increased education funding by more than half a billion dollars, but we have also enacted a fair funding formula that takes into account each school district's unique needs. Though we have made great progress by increasing education funds and distributing these funds in a more equitable way, I will continue to advocate for greater investment to restore the devastating cuts of the previous administration that resulted in larger class sizes, the elimination of important programs, massive teacher layoffs, and skyrocketing property taxes.

In addition to increasing education funding, I was also able to work with the legislature to secure $20.4 million in the budget to combat the commonwealth's heroin crisis and expand treatment options for Pennsylvanians struggling with opioid use disorder. This critical funding will enable the Department of Human Services to implement 20 centers that will help about 4,500 people who are currently unable to access treatment.

Over the last several months, I have traveled Pennsylvania holding roundtables with local leaders, legislators, and those who have been personally affected by the scourge of opioid use disorder. Through these experiences, I became acutely aware of the dire need to fight this epidemic head on. In the months ahead, I will continue to travel Pennsylvania and identify further action our commonwealth can take to spare more families from the tragedy of addiction and loss.

While the budget allows us to expand treatment for individuals suffering from addiction, we can and should do more to address this matter that is plaguing all of our communities. My administration will keep its focus on this issue, and I will continue preparing for the upcoming special session to address this epidemic.

In addition to securing significant new funding for education and battling the opioid epidemic, we were also able to reduce the deficit. When I took office, Pennsylvania was facing a deficit of more than $2 billion, and while we have more work to do, today, the commonwealth's deficit has been significantly reduced.

To achieve these goals, I worked diligently with Democrats and Republicans in both the House and Senate and made significant compromises. I am proud of what we have accomplished together this year and I look forward to continuing to make Pennsylvania even stronger.

@GovernorTomWolf