Takac: Historic boost for schools at center of budget that builds jobs, supports working people, and invests in our economy
Rep. Paul Takac November 12, 2025 | 4:30 PM
HARRISBURG, Nov. 12 – Following bipartisan approval and enactment of the 2025-26 state budget, state Rep. Paul Takac, D-Centre, praised a balanced and responsible plan that advances priorities without raising taxes or tapping the Rainy Day Fund.
The plan, totaling just over $50 billion, represents a compromise among the governor’s proposal, the House plan, and the Senate’s approach. It was crafted to ensure the Commonwealth can pay its bills, provide a historic boost to education funding, and invest in working families, job creation and economic growth.
“This is responsible governance — fiscal discipline paired with compassion,” Takac said. “With $11 billion in reserves and no tax increase, this budget meets our current needs while protecting our future.”
Takac highlighted how the budget addresses affordability and strengthens programs that matter to families across the district. He noted the plan increases Basic Education funding by more than $100 million, boosts Special Education by $40 million, and directs nearly $600 million to begin correcting long-standing adequacy gaps in school funding. The budget reforms charter payments to align with actual instructional costs, saving local taxpayers roughly $178 million statewide, and adds another $100 million for school safety and mental health services. It also strengthens early childhood education through investments in high quality, affordable pre-K, supports measures to make it easier and more affordable for teachers to enter classrooms, and invests in college affordability so talented young people can learn and build careers here in Pennsylvania.
On working families, Takac pointed to a new Working Pennsylvanians Tax Credit equal to 10 percent of the federal Earned Income Tax Credit, which will return roughly $400 to $1,000 or more to qualifying households that need it the most. The budget provides $25 million to support quality child care workers, helping families afford reliable care while supporting the early childhood workforce.
Additionally, the plan makes significant investments in health and human services, including $750 million for Medical Assistance managed care to stabilize services and providers and increased funding for direct care workers, while adding an additional $150 million for services for individuals with intellectual disabilities, and $40 million to expand food security and support family farms facing federal shortfalls.
Takac emphasized the budget’s commitment to public safety, the environment, and energy reliability. The package increases funding for both the departments of Environmental Protection and Conservation and Natural Resources, invests in targeted environmental projects, advances Solar for Schools and grid improvements to create jobs and lower costs, and adds resources for the Pennsylvania State Police while continuing critical support for rape crisis centers and domestic violence programs.
To spur economic growth, the budget dedicates more than $100 million to job creation, innovation and entrepreneurship, and includes steps to speed permit approvals so that more businesses can expand without excessive state delays.
“No budget is perfect, but this proposal advances many of the key priorities that my colleagues and I have steadfastly fought for,” Takac said. “It is a pragmatic, bipartisan plan that creates jobs, invests in our children, protects seniors, eases affordability pressures and preserves fiscal stability we can build on in the years ahead.”