PA Gov. To Reveal Spending Proposal Tuesday: What To Know

HARRISBURG, PA — Gov. Tom Wolf will deliver his 2020-21 budget address Tuesday morning in the chamber of the House of Representatives in Harrisburg.

You can watch the live feed here.

Full details on the spending plan will be released at that time, but over the past several days, the governor has released some information on what we can expect to see.

The budget could exceed $35 billion — about $1 billion more than the current year's plan — the Associated Press reported, but is not expected to include tax increases. The spending plan will contain “no surprises," Wolf said, according to the AP.

Here are some of the budget items Wolf has previously announced:

COUNTY PROGRAMS FOR THE DISABLED

Additional administrative funding of $4 million is proposed for counties to support individuals with intellectual disabilities and/or autism.

IMPROVING FOOD SECURITY

An investment of $1 million in the Pennsylvania Agricultural Surplus System is proposed to expand access to healthy meals.

LEGAL SERVICES FOR VULNERABLE POPULATIONS

Additional funding of $1 million is proposed to expand the legal services accessibility to low-income individuals and those who are unable to afford necessary legal services.

EDUCATION

Wolf has said he plans to increase funding for state-owned universities, the AP reported. Specifics have not yet been announced.

REDUCING LEAD AND ASBESTOS

Last week, Wolf announced $1.1 billion in budget to reduce lead and asbestos in schools, day cares, homes, and public water systems.

As part of that initiative, Wolf is proposing to expand the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program to schools. Up to $1 billion in grants from the program will be used for lead and asbestos remediation in schools, "a problem plaguing many of the state’s aging school buildings and causing health concerns for students and their parents, teachers, and staff," his office announced.

Additionally, an increase of funding of lead remediation activities in places where children have been exposed to high levels of lead is proposed. Wolf will also propose transferring funds from the state's clean water revolving fund to its drinking water state revolving fund.

Other elements include the implementation of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Lead Testing in School and Child Care Program Drinking Water Grant. Pennsylvania submitted a grant application and, if awarded, will get about $1.7 million to develop and implement a lead testing program in 3,000 schools schools and child care facilities throughout the state.

DIRECT CARE WORKER TRAINING

A new investment of $1.2 million is proposed to support direct care worker training to support the growing population those eligible for long-term care services and providing training for those interested in the field.

SUPPORTING THOSE IN LONG-TERM CARE

A increase of $1.4 million is proposed for the Ventilator Dependent Resident Grant Program. The governor is proposing an adjustment in the eligibility criteria for the program from requiring at least eight hours per day of ventilator support to any pressure support ventilation and increasing the list of supplies that are reimbursable.