Burns: No-tax-hike budget helps local schools, economic development
Bipartisan budget gives Cambria County schools $10 million increase
Rep. Frank Burns November 12, 2025 | 5:25 PM
HARRISBURG, Nov. 12 -- After putting his seniority and experience to work to ensure Cambria County was not overlooked, state Rep. Frank Burns, D-Cambria, today supported a new state budget that avoids any tax hikes while helping local schools, police and economic development projects.
The state budget provides an additional $10 million in state funding for Cambria County school districts, plus earmarks for a project at Johnstown Airport and tax incentives to lure companies to Cambria County.
For the airport, the budget authorizes the state Transportation Department to designate it as one of five mobility sites for drones across the state. Drone mobility sites house the infrastructure for future drone transportation networks.
The budget also designates 300 acres in Cambria County, including 40 in Johnstown, for a nationally recognized economic development program, Keystone Opportunity Zones. The KOZ program spurs economic growth through state and local tax incentives. Business Facilities magazine has named it the top economic development strategy in the country.
The budget also includes $58 million more for state police and $750 million more for managed care for seniors. It also helps working families with a Working Pennsylvanian Tax Credit.
“It wasn’t easy, but we got it done,” Burns said. “In the end, this budget reflects my commitment to protecting taxpayers while also addressing some of my constituents’ top priorities—more money for schools, more police on the streets, tax breaks for working families, and cutting taxes for businesses to spur economic growth.”
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“In the end, this budget reflects my commitment to protecting taxpayers while also addressing some of my constituents’ top priorities—more money for schools, more police on the streets, tax breaks for working families, and cutting taxes for businesses to spur economic growth.”
– Rep. Frank Burns
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The budget also avoids any withdrawals from the state’s Rainy Day Fund, ensuring more than $7 billion remains in that critical fund. Burns said that’s another reason he supported it.
Residents can see the House roll call vote on the main budget bill here.