2021-22 State Budget
Proposed Budget Highlights
Basic Education:
- Full funding of public schools through the Fair Funding Formula
- $1.35 billion increase to basic education funding
- $1 billion in Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) grants to address school infrastructure needs in PA
- $200 million for special education
- Releases up to $36 million for additional scholarship to students under the Education Improvement Tax Credit and Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit Programs)
- $25 million for Pre-K Counts
- $11 million increase for Early intervention programs
- $5 million for the Head Start Supplemental Program
- Charter School reform for $229 million in savings to school districts
- Sets cyber charter tuition rates at $9,500 per student
- Push for $45,000 minimum salary per year for teachers
Higher Education:
- $199 million for free and affordable college through the Nellie Bly Tuition Program
- Level funding for higher education
Workforce Development:
- Proposes minimum wage increase to $12 per hour on July 1, 2021, with a path to $15 per hour
- Tax deductions for low- and middle-income families
- Provide $3 billion to workers and businesses to stabilize the economy and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic through the Back to Work PA plan
- Improves food security and supports farmers by investing $1 million in the Pennsylvania Agriculture Surplus System (PASS)
Human Services:
- Directs $87 million in federal funding to Child Care Works base rates and create a more stable business environment for child care facilities while improving equal access to child care services
- $8.3 million to help county and municipal health departments fight COVID-19
- 13.8 million to provide home and community-based services to 100 individuals with disabilities on waiting list and provide services through the Community Living Waiver to 732 individuals on waiting list
- Additional $1 million to fund legal services for low-income individuals and families, an issue the caucus has pushed for and will continue to fight for in future budgets
- $1.25 million for 20 Community Hospital Integration Projects Program (CHIPP) to help reduce state hospital populations
- $1 million to reduce the number of children and youth in out-of-home placements triggered by homelessness, housing instability, or inadequate housing
2021-22 Budget Hearings
Monday, March 8, 2021
10:00 am – Independent Fiscal Office
2:00 pm – Department of Revenue/Lottery
3:00 pm – Department of Drug & Alcohol Programs
Tuesday, March 9, 2021
10:00 am – Department of Conservation & Natural Resources
2:00 pm – Department of Transportation
3:00 pm – Pennsylvania Treasury Department
Wednesday, March 10, 2021
10:00 am – Department of Human Services
1:30 pm – Department of Human Services (Continued)
Thursday, March 11, 2021
10:00 am – Department of Environmental Protection
1:30 pm – Department of State
Thursday, March 18, 2021
10:00 am – Department of Education
1:30 pm – Department of Education (Continued)
3:00 pm – PA State System of Higher Education
Monday, March 22, 2021
10:00 am – Department of Corrections / Board of Probation & Parole
2:00 pm – Department of Community & Economic Development
Tuesday, April 6, 2021
10:00 am – State-Related Universities
1:00 pm – Department of Military & Veterans Affairs
3:00 pm – Pennsylvania Treasury Department
Wednesday, April 7, 2021
10:00 am – PA Liquor Control Board
1:00 pm – Office of Attorney General
3:00 pm – Office of Auditor General
Thursday, April 8, 2021
10:00 am – Department of Labor & Industry
2:00 pm – Department of Agriculture
Thursday, April 22, 2021
10:00 am – Department of Health
2:00 pm – Budget Secretary / Governor’s Executive Office & Department of General Services
Budget Address
Watch Gov. Tom Wolf deliver his 2021-22 budget address.
Budget Documents
2021-22 Proposed Budget (Introduced by Governor Tom Wolf, February 3, 2021)
2021-22 Governor’s Executive Budget (PDF)
2021-22 Proposed Budget Line-Item Appropriation (PDF)
Budget News
Senator Amanda M. Cappelletti Responds to Governor Wolf’s Budget Address
Norristown, PA. – February 5, 2021 – Senator Amanda M. Cappelletti (D-17 Montgomery/Delaware) viewed Governor Tom Wolf’s budget address earlier this week. The Governor’s 2021-2022 budget proposal includes a strong emphasis on breaking down the barriers that plague...
Senator Haywood Responds to Governor Wolf’s Budget
Philadelphia – February 4, 2021 – State Senator Art Haywood (D-Montgomery/Philadelphia) released the following statement on Governor Wolf’s 2021-22 budget: “Our Commonwealth is facing difficult times. The COVID-19 pandemic has crushed families and businesses in...
Senator Nikil Saval Responds to Governor Wolf’s 2021–2022 Budget Proposal
PHILADELPHIA − February 3, 2021 — State Senator Nikil Saval (D–Philadelphia), who serves on the Senate Appropriations Committee, has issued the following statement in response to the 2021–2022 budget proposed by Governor Tom Wolf: “Millions of...
Senator Comitta Responds to Governor’s Budget Address
February 3, 2021 − State Senator Carolyn Comitta released the following statement in response to the governor's 2021-22 budget address: “I support the goals of the governor’s proposal, including important investments in education, local government, COVID-19 response,...
Blake: Budget Prioritizes Fair Education Funding
SCRANTON, February 3, 2021 – State Sen. John Blake (D-Lackawanna/Luzerne/Monroe) today released the following statement regarding Governor Tom Wolf’s proposed $37.8 billion state budget: “As we continue to face the uncertainty and disruption caused by the COVID-19...
Sen. Fontana Releases Statement on the Governor’s 2021 Budget Address
Harrisburg – February 3, 2021 – Sen. Wayne D. Fontana (D- Allegheny) released the following statement following Governor Tom Wolf’s budget address: For the last 11 months, millions of Pennsylvanians have sacrificed—by protecting their loved ones, looking out for their...