Matzie votes ‘yes’ on new budget, citing public education, jobs, no new taxes
Rep. Robert F. Matzie November 12, 2025 | 3:40 PM
HARRISBURG, Nov. 12 – State Rep. Rob Matzie cast a “yes” vote today on the $50.1 billion 2025-26 Pennsylvania budget, saying the budget invests taxpayer dollars wisely without adding any new tax burden on residents.
“This budget was a long time coming this year, but I’m satisfied that the plan we sent to the governor today will deliver critical funding to our schools, counties, and programs and services,” said Matzie, who is chairman of the House Majority Caucus. “I supported the new budget because it spends responsibly while delivering strong investments for our public schools and other critical programs – all without adding any new taxes or tapping into the state’s Rainy Day Fund.”
Matzie said the new spending plan includes a $105 million increase for basic education, $40 million more for special education, a $565 million increase in Ready to Learn block grant funding for adequacy and tax equity payments and $178 million in savings from cyber charter reform.
“The new budget delivers on our constitutional obligation to fairly fund our schools, adding nearly $600 million to help us continue leveling the playing field for students in less-affluent ZIP codes and easing the property tax burden on residents,” Matzie said.
District 16 schools will see the following increases:
- Aliquippa SD: Nearly $129,000 (0.9%) increase for basic education, $76,740 (4.6%) increase for special education, nearly $940,000 increase in adequacy funding, and more than $400,000 from cyber charter reform savings.
- Ambridge Area SD: Nearly $149,000 (1.2%) increase in basic education funding, nearly $12,500 more for special education, more than $1.1 million in adequacy funding and more than $334,000 from cyber charter savings.
- Central Valley SD: More than $86,000 (0.9%) increase in basic education funding, nearly $38,000 (2.0%) increase in special education funding, nearly $417,000 increase in adequacy funding, and nearly $104,000 from cyber charter savings.
- Freedom Area SD: nearly $40,400 (0.4% increase) in basic education funding, more than $17,400 (1.3% increase) in special education funding, nearly $600,000 increase in adequacy funding and more than $120,000 from cyber charter savings.
- Hopewell Area SD: More than $87,700 (0.8%) increase in basic education funding, nearly $75,500 (3.3%) increase in special education funding, nearly $178,000 from cyber charter savings and a $50,000 increase in adequacy funding.
- Rochester Area SD: More than $117,000 (1.4%) increase in basic education funding, nearly $60,000 (5.3% increase) for special education, nearly $80,000 from cyber charter savings, and a $50,000 increase in adequacy funding.
“The plan will also help students in poorer districts by adding $50 million to the Educational Improvement Tax Credit program, which supports supplemental scholarships for students attending economically disadvantaged schools,” Matzie said.
Matzie said other highlights of the plan include $2 billion to repair and improve roads and bridges; a $747 million increase for Medical Assistance Managed Care to ensure residents in traditionally underserved communities have access to care; more than $100 million for job creation, innovation, and support for entrepreneurs; and $25 million to support reliable, affordable child care.
“It’s not a perfect budget – no budget ever is,” Matzie said. “But the new plan invests taxpayer dollars wisely, in ways that will help people thrive, and it does so without adding any new taxes or tapping into the state’s Rainy Day Fund. They are strategic investments I believe will move us in the right direction.”
Although separate from the new budget, Matzie said he was also pleased to support legislation that would ensure that receipt of Social Security cost-of-living increases does not prevent seniors from qualifying for the state’s PACE and PACENET affordable prescription drug programs.