Southwest Allegheny News

Rep. Valerie Gaydos of Allegheny has expressed her thoughts on Governor Josh Shapiro's proposed budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year. The budget amounts to $51.47 billion, marking a $3.57 billion increase from the current year.

In her statement, Gaydos emphasized that "the governor’s budget proposal is just the beginning," noting that both the House and Senate will review it thoroughly and make necessary changes. She compared government spending to household budgeting, stating there is often a gap between desires and what can be realistically afforded.

Gaydos acknowledged the merit in some of the proposals but stressed the importance of focusing on feasible funding options. With inflation affecting personal finances, she argued against raising taxes to cover excessive spending.

She highlighted efforts by House Republicans to build a surplus and maintain a strong Rainy Day Fund, criticizing Shapiro's plan for potentially depleting these reserves by using $1.6 billion from the Rainy Day Fund and exhausting the General Fund surplus.

According to Gaydos, Pennsylvania faces a structural deficit where expenditures surpass revenues. She believes more taxes are not the answer; instead, investments should be made in initiatives that drive job creation and economic growth. Despite lower unemployment rates, she noted that most job growth has been within government sectors, which she views as counterproductive to reducing government costs.

"The path forward is clear: lower taxes, less government and more freedom for Pennsylvanians," Gaydos concluded.

The proposed budget will undergo scrutiny during three weeks of public hearings conducted by the House Appropriations Committee starting February 18th.

For further details on Rep. Gaydos' comments or additional information regarding the state budget, contact Rick Leiner at 717-260-6437.