Bucks Co. Lawmakers React To End Of PA Budget Impasse

LOWER BUCKS COUNTY, PA — Lawmakers are reacting to the end of the PA state budget impasse after the Pennsylvania Senate passed FY 2025-2026 budget bill on Wednesday night.

The vote comes 135 days after the budget deadline.

State Sen. Steve Santarsiero said the the Pennsylvania Senate voted to pass a $50.09 billion state budget that follows through on Democrats’ promise of no tax increases, and in fact includes tax cuts for almost 1 million Pennsylvanians.

“This budget represents a compromise that still delivers on our key caucus priorities: affordability, education, public safety, and the economy," the senator said. "I’m happy to report that this budget secures a major win for working families with our new Working Pennsylvanians Tax Credit. It provides additional funding for childcare and for programs to help our food banks as folks are struggling with the suspension of SNAP benefits by the Trump Administration. Affordability for Pennsylvanians is the throughline of this budget.”

Republican State Rep. Kathleen "KC" Tomlinson, who represents Bensalem Township, said the budget passed with bipartisan support.

"While the process getting there was not easy, we do have some significant wins within this budget," Tomlinson said.

She said that the Bensalem Township School District will receive a 9.7 percent increase — or $2.95 million — between direct funding and new cost-saving reforms.

Tomlinson said for her constituents in Hulmeville, the Neshaminy School District will receive a 2.8 percent increase — over $500,000 — in increased funding.

"Despite pushback on both sides, we were eventually able to hash out a deal that benefits all Pennsylvanians," State Rep. Brian Munroe said. "This budget will fund our schools and public transportation, does not touch our rainy day fund, and it will not increase your taxes."

Munroe said that Pennsylvania needs to continue to practice fiscal restraint.

Tomlinson said the budget will boost economic growth, lower energy costs, and increase the state's competitiveness while holding bureaucrats accountable.

The budget will also return taxpayer dollars to working Pennsylvanians with the implementation of the ALICE tax credit program.

The original spending number was $51.5 billion. Tomlinson said that through negotiations, the figure was brought down by $1.4 billion.