Harrisburg, PA − July 13, 2026 – On Sunday, Senator Amanda M. Cappelletti (D-17, Delaware/Montgomery) voted “YES” on Pennsylvania’s 2026-2027 state budget. The General Assembly sent the budget to Governor Shapiro’s desk 12 days after their constitutionally mandated June 30 deadline.
The final fiscal budget spend came to $50.849 billion—a 3.7% increase from the prior year.
“My Senate Democratic colleagues and I fought to ensure each budget investment truly prioritizes hardworking Pennsylvanians and their families, especially when Republicans in Harrisburg and Washington are comfortable pushing them to the side,” said Senator Cappelletti. “This year’s state budget includes compromises from both sides of the aisle, reflecting the reality of our divided government. While I am pleased we were able to come together to adequately invest in the services that keep our Commonwealth running—albeit 12 days late—there is still much work to be done when we return to Harrisburg in the fall.”
There are several aspects of this year’s budget Senator Cappelletti is proud to celebrate, especially those advancing affordable services and resources in all 67 counties:
Advancing Public Education
- $565 million for adequacy and equity public education funding. Every school district in Senate District 17 received a funding boost this year.
- $154 million for Career and Technical Education, widely expanding opportunities for young Pennsylvanians entering the workforce.
- $125 million for public school facility improvements. This brings the Commonwealth to a $375 million increase over the past three years to ensure public education infrastructure is conducive to a successful learning environment.
- $40 million for student teacher stipends, which is a $10 million increase since last year to ensure the program continues to succeed.
Uplifting Vulnerable Pennsylvanians
- $10M for the 988 network. In Pennsylvania, 93% of calls to 988 ends in crisis resolution without need for further intervention, and this investment ensures continued, accessible mental health services.
- $24.1 million for rape crisis centers, doubling the previous amount of funding for resources uplifting survivors in the Commonwealth.
- $62.15M for Violence Intervention and Prevention programs that will fund initiatives in District 17 and beyond.
Putting Pennsylvania Children and Families First
- $200+ million in tax relief through the Working Pennsylvanians Tax Credit. This will cut taxes for almost one million hardworking Pennsylvanians.
- The continuation of the Child and Dependent Care Enhancement Tax Credit to continue tackling the childcare affordability crisis head on.
- $30 million for a childcare worker retention bonus, which will serve more than 55,000 childcare workers who provide essential care across the Commonwealth.
Room for Improvement
While there were many wins in this year’s budget, Senator Cappelletti shared the following statement as to where the legislature missed the mark, and where there is room for continued improvement throughout the rest of the session calendar:
“Pennsylvanians are struggling, and they deserve to see their tax dollars at work to improve every aspect of their lives. This year, there were a few items that deserved attention, and the legislature dropped the ball.”
“Funding for public transit is at the top of my list. The crisis SEPTA—and the many other transit systems servicing all 67 counties—faced last year because of Senate Republicans’ refusal to act severely disrupted thousands of Pennsylvanians’ lives. Public transit is a public good, not a luxury. We cannot allow this essential infrastructure to crumble. Yet, Senate Republicans did not seem to learn from 2025 or take any action this year to institute sustainable, holistic transit funding.”
“To get this budget done, Senate Republicans also relied on one-time revenue streams, fund transfers, and payment shifts. We know there are several opportunities for new and continuous revenue streams, like taxing ultra wealthy tech corporations, raising our abysmal minimum wage, and much more. Make no mistake: we do have opportunities to generate more revenue here in Pennsylvania to better provide for essential services and meet the modern needs of our constituents. Senate Republicans refused these proactive measures, and left this business unfinished.”
“Moving forward, we must address these shortcomings to ensure this Commonwealth serves every Pennsylvanian.”
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