Rep. Donna Scheuren of Montgomery County has expressed concerns following Governor Josh Shapiro’s recent budget address. In her statement, Scheuren acknowledged the positive aspects of the governor’s proposals, including funding for career and technical education programs, support for veterans, emergency services, and new cadet classes for the Pennsylvania State Police.
However, Scheuren raised issues with the proposed 7.5% increase in spending compared to the previous year. She stated that “projected revenues do not increase enough to match this spending,” and criticized the reliance on legalizing marijuana as a revenue source. According to Scheuren, Governor Shapiro’s plan would deplete the state’s surplus by the end of the 2025-26 fiscal year.
Scheuren also took issue with the proposal to use $1.6 billion from the Rainy Day Fund, which she argued should be reserved for major emergencies. She warned that this action could push Pennsylvania into a precarious financial situation.
While acknowledging some merit in certain programs within the budget, Scheuren emphasized that “the increases are too high” and called for more aggressive efforts to combat fraud and inefficiency. Without such measures, she said there would be insufficient funds for widely supported programs without depleting savings or creating new revenue sources.
