HARRISBURG, Pa. — Pennsylvania lawmakers are considering a $50.85 billion state budget agreement that could bring this year’s budget negotiations to an end nearly two weeks after the annual deadline.
Leaders of the commonwealth’s divided legislature reached the spending agreement over the weekend, with the state House and Senate expected to vote on the plan Sunday.
The proposed budget represents an approximately 1.5% increase in state spending compared to last year. It is also roughly $2.4 billion less than the $53.3 billion spending plan Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro proposed in February.
Pennsylvania’s new fiscal year began July 1, making the budget 11 days late as lawmakers prepared to take final votes.
The commonwealth’s General Assembly remains politically divided, with Democrats controlling the state House and Republicans holding the majority in the state Senate.
The spending plan must receive a simple majority vote in both chambers before it can be sent to Shapiro for his signature.
Lawmakers faced additional pressure to complete the budget in July ahead of the November elections and several major sporting events scheduled across Pennsylvania this summer.
Last year’s state budget was not finalized until November, more than four months after the June 30 deadline. That lengthy impasse delayed payments to public schools, counties, social service organizations and other programs that rely on state funding.
Final details of the new budget and related legislation are expected to become clearer as lawmakers debate and vote on the package Sunday.
