Lancaster County House Delegation Supports Budget That Consolidates Services for Taxpayer Savings
4/4/2017
HARRISBURG – The Lancaster County House Republican Delegation voted in favor of a budget that would provide greater government efficiency, allowing for an increase in education funding without borrowing or new taxes.
State Reps. Bryan Cutler (R-Peach Bottom), Mindy Fee (R-Manheim), Keith J. Greiner (R-Upper Leacock), Dave Hickernell (R-West Donegal), Steve Mentzer (R-Lititz), Brett Miller (R-East Hempfield) and Dave Zimmerman (R-East Earl), along with the other Republican House members, have suggested efforts to streamline government and use taxpayer money more efficiently.
“This budget would reduce costs to taxpayers by eliminating duplicative government services,” said Cutler, majority whip. “Other agencies and committees that are already in place are better suited to deliver benefits to Commonwealth residents, freeing up money to address important issues like providing community-based services for 8,000 more individuals with intellectual and physical disabilities, as well as funding education.”
With responsible investments in education, the budget commits to students of all ages. However, a special emphasis is focused on Basic Education Funding to be distributed through the Fair Funding Formula.
“Even with accepting many of the governor’s proposed cuts in this budget bill, we fund preK-12 education at a record $11.8 billion,” Hickernell, House Education Committee chairman, said. ‘This budget also adds $20 million for PreK Counts and $5 million for Head Start, providing an additional 3,360 children with access to preK programs.”
“The budget we are proposing would keep our debt and borrowing under control,” said Greiner, a second-term member of the House Appropriations Committee. “It contains no new taxes or borrowing and actually spends less than the current year’s budget.”
As House Bill 218 was passed in the House, it now awaits a vote in the Senate.
Lancaster County House Republican Delegation
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Alison Evans
717.260.6206