Jun. 25, 2021 / Press Release

HARRISBURG — Rep. Zach Mako (R-Lehigh/Northampton) joined his colleagues in approving a $39.78 billion Fiscal Year 2021-22 state budget on Friday. He issued the following statement in response:

“This budget is a win for Pennsylvania’s taxpayers. We stopped the governor’s proposed $7 billion Personal Income Tax proposal. We are putting $2.52 billion in the state’s Rainy Day Fund. We are planning for the future by responsibly using stimulus funds, unlike when Gov. Ed Rendell grew government with the relief funds from the Great Recession and left a $4 billion deficit for Gov. Tom Corbett to solve.

“This budget uses federal relief funding for one-time expenditures and saves more than $5 billion for future budgets. Among the areas supported by the stimulus funds will be $282 million to assist nursing homes, personal care homes and assisted living facilities that care for our most vulnerable and incurred significant costs to stop the spread of COVID-19; $279 million to pay for critical road and bridge projects in flux due to reduced gasoline taxes collected as a result of a reduction in travel required under stay-at-home orders; and $350 million for educational enrichment to combat student learning loss due to the pandemic.

“In addition, we are increasing education funding by $380 million for prekindergarten through 12th grade students. The Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program will see an additional $40 million. This program helps low- to middle-income families to afford private school and prekindergarten programs of their choice, in addition to encouraging unique public-school programs.

“Finally, public safety remains at the forefront as the budget will fund two state police cadet classes. This will add 180 troopers to the compliment and buttress impending retirements.”

For more information on the 2021-22 budget, visit www.pahousegop.com.

The 183rd District includes South Whitehall (part), Washington and Whitehall (part) townships and Slatington Borough in Lehigh County. It also consists of Allen, Lehigh and Moore (part) townships, and North Catasauqua, Northampton and Walnutport boroughs in Northampton County.


Representative Zachary Mako
183rd Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives

Media Contact: Tracy Polovick
717.260.6358
tpolovick@pahousegop.com
RepMako.com / Facebook.com/RepMako
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