Delivering a Responsible, Compassionate Budget for Pennsylvania

Rep. Melissa Cerrato November 14, 2025 | 9:04 AM

Dear Friends,

After a long and challenging process, I’m thrilled to announce that we have passed a balanced, bipartisan budget that reflects both fiscal responsibility and compassion for our communities. The total state General Fund spending is $50.09 billion. This plan includes no tax increases and makes no reductions to the Rainy Day Fund, while maintaining $11 billion in reserves for the future. This budget protects jobs, prevents layoffs, and ensures that counties, townships, and boroughs can continue serving their residents. Most importantly, it preserves vital services and keeps Pennsylvania’s economy growing, even amid uncertainty from Washington.

This budget was not only responsible but also broadly bipartisan. The General Appropriation Bill, Senate Bill 160, passed with a strong vote of 156–47. The State-Related University Nonpreferred Bill, House Bill 1421, passed 151–52. The Tax Code Bill, House Bill 416, passed overwhelmingly, 189–14. And the Human Services Code Bill, House Bill 749, passed nearly unanimously, 199–4.

Once again this year, education is at the heart of the budget because we believe every child deserves opportunity. We fully funded the second installment of adequacy and tax equity payments—a $565 million increase that fulfills our constitutional obligation to public schools. Basic education funding rose by $105 million, special education by $40 million, and early intervention for three- to five-year-olds by $28.5 million.

Charter school payments were reformed to reflect actual costs, projected to save taxpayers approximately $178 million statewide, and the $100 million Cyber Charter Transition Program was eliminated. We dedicated $125 million for school facilities, including at least $25 million set aside for Solar for Schools, and another $100 million for school safety and mental health grants. Pre-K Counts received an additional $9.5 million, raising the per-student reimbursement rate, and the Public Library Subsidy increased by $5 million. We also added $50 million to the Educational Improvement Tax Credit program; all directed toward scholarships for students attending economically disadvantaged schools.

Higher education funding remains stable, with the PHEAA grant maximum maintained at $5,750, level funding for PASSHE, community colleges, Penn State, Pitt, and Temple, and a five percent increase for Thaddeus Stevens, Pennsylvania College of Technology, and Lincoln University. The Grow PA Scholarships launched this year will receive $57.5 million across two fiscal years.

These numbers are more than just line items—they represent brighter classrooms, safer schools, and more doors opening for children across our state.

We also recognize that families are feeling the strain of rising costs, and this budget delivers relief. The new Working Pennsylvanian Tax Credit ensures that anyone who qualifies for the federal Earned Income Tax Credit will automatically receive an additional ten percent at the state level, putting between $400 and $1,000 directly into the pockets of working families.

We invested $25 million in childcare worker retention and recruitment, recognizing the critical role they play in caring for our kids.

This budget reflects compassion for our most vulnerable neighbors. We invested $747 million in Medical Assistance Managed Care—an eight percent increase—including $21 million for Direct Care Workers in the participant-directed model. Funding for the Intellectual Disabilities Community Waiver Program increased by $154.4 million, and PENNCARE, which supports local Area Agencies on Aging, rose by $10.7 million. Early intervention for children from birth to age three received an additional $13.2 million, including $10 million to raise provider rates.

We have also increased support for programs that protect and uplift survivors. An additional $470,000 will strengthen domestic violence initiatives, ensuring that shelters, counseling services, and prevention programs have the resources they need to break cycles of abuse and provide safety and stability. Another $250,000 will expand the reach of rape crisis centers, guaranteeing that survivors of sexual assault have immediate access to compassionate care, advocacy, and justice.

These investments are more than numbers on a page—they are lifelines, affirming that survivors will be heard, believed, and supported. Together, these commitments send a powerful message: we are investing in people, in resilience, and in a future where science, compassion, and justice work hand in hand. These investments ensure that people in need have somewhere to turn and that no one is left behind.

This budget increases funding for clean air, clean water, and green spaces, including $56.8 million for general government operations at DCNR and $31.9 million for DEP operations. We have invested in Solar for Schools to reduce taxpayer costs and strengthen our energy grid, while also increasing Chesapeake Bay agricultural source abatement funding by nearly 60 percent.

Transportation investments include $650 million for highway safety, $1.18 billion for highway maintenance, $274.5 million for safety administration and licensing, and $45 million for municipal traffic signals. To keep our communities safe, we are also increasing State Police staffing with a $69.3 million boost in operations, supporting rape crisis centers and domestic violence programs, and investing in disaster assistance and urban search and rescue.

Finally, this budget helps Pennsylvania’s economy thrive. We are investing more than $100 million in job creation, innovation, and entrepreneurship, while cutting red tape by speeding up permit approvals that too often hold back local business growth. New initiatives include $8.8 million for BusinessPA, $20 million for Main Street Matters, $20 million for historically disadvantaged businesses, and $17 million for the Ben Franklin Technology Development Authority Fund. We also continued investments in agriculture, including $10 million for innovation development and $11 million for animal health and diagnostics. To combat food insecurity, we increased funding for Farmers Market Coupons by 271 percent and added $4 million more for the State Food Purchase Program.

In short, this budget creates jobs, invests in kids, protects seniors, makes life more affordable, and stands up for taxpayers—both now and in the future. It reflects responsible governance by balancing fiscal discipline with compassion, delivering real results for our communities.

Although the road to get here was longer and windier than any of us wanted, the strong bipartisan votes that carried these bills forward show that when we work together, Pennsylvania wins. I am proud of what we accomplished, but I know there is more work ahead. I will continue fighting for transparency, accountability, and fairness in every decision we make.

Thank you for trusting me to represent you. Together, we are building a stronger Pennsylvania.

A Season of Giving: Standing Together Against Hunger and for Our Children

Food insecurity is not a distant problem—it is present in every community across our Commonwealth. With the recent loss of federal SNAP funding, more families are struggling to put food on the table. Hunger does not discriminate; it affects working parents, older adults, children, and people living with disabilities. This is not a political issue, it is a human one.

That is why I am asking for your help. Our office continues to serve as a drop-off location for food donations. I personally delivered the first collection, but this effort requires all of us. Every can, every box, every contribution matters.

At the same time, we are working to bring joy to children during the holiday season through our annual Holiday Gift Drive. Each child has shared their wishes, clothing sizes, and favorite colors. You can participate by:

Choosing a child from our list
Shopping for their wish list or clothing needs
Dropping off unwrapped gifts at 605 Horsham Rd, Horsham PA 19044 by November 28

Whether it’s a warm meal or an unwrapped gift, your generosity can make a lasting difference. Together, we can ensure that no family goes hungry and no child feels forgotten this holiday season.

Thank you to those who have dropped off gifts already! I am grateful for the opportunity to represent you and to work alongside you to build a stronger, safer, and more compassionate community.

Upcoming Events

SEPTA Senior Key Card Event

We’re excited to invite you to our upcoming SEPTA Senior Key Card Event, created to make it easier for residents who may not be able to visit our office during the workweek to apply for or renew their Senior Key Card.

Through our continued partnership with SEPTA, we’re proud to provide this convenient opportunity for seniors in our community. The SEPTA Senior Key Card is available to residents aged 65 and older and offers free rides on all SEPTA transit routes, including buses, trolleys, subways, and regional rail. Seniors traveling to Delaware or New Jersey can also enjoy a 50% discount on fares when using their Senior Key Card.

Important Notes:

SEPTA currently takes about four weeks to process and mail new cards.
If you prefer not to wait, you may renew your pass directly at SEPTA Headquarters, 1234 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107, by scheduling an appointment at (215) 580-7145.
Please note that duplicate cards cannot be issued at this event. To replace a lost or stolen card, you must mail a $5 check or money order payable to SEPTA to: SEPTA, P.O. Box 824833, Philadelphia, PA 19182.

We hope you will take advantage of this opportunity to secure or renew your Senior Key Card in a convenient and supportive setting. Please spread the word to friends and neighbors who may benefit from this program.