Late Thursday, July 11, the Pennsylvania General Assembly voted on a $47.6 billion budget for fiscal year 2024-25. The final compromise was about $860 million below what Governor Josh Shapiro had initially proposed in February but maintained commitments to key programs Lutherans in Pennsylvania have diligently advocated for this cycle and in recent years. However, crucial programs to alleviate hunger in the Commonwealth remain underfunded.
The biggest point of contention in negotiations, resulting in a budget that was almost two weeks past the constitutionally mandated deadline of June 30, was public education funding. This resulted in almost $1 billion of new education investments, including more than $500 million to public schools to address the landmark court ruling that found Pennsylvania’s education funding formula unconstitutional. A controversial proposal to create a taxpayer funded school voucher program for private and religious schools was not included.
“Lutherans have a long history of supporting fair and equitable funding of public education, from Luther himself to the work of Pennsylvania Lutherans in the run-up to the legal decision,” said LAMPa Director Tracey DePasquale. “We’re glad to be over this particular hurdle and look forward to continued work to ensure all children in Pennsylvania can have access to a quality education.”
Hunger Funding Stagnant
The state’s largest anti-hunger programs, State Food Purchase Program (SFPP), PA Agriculture Surplus System (PASS), and Senior Food Box Program– which provide most of the food found in food banks and hunger ministries around the Commonwealth – were flat funded.
“In an era of significant increases in food costs, which are felt by neighbors and the food banks that serve them, flat funding is essentially a cut to core programs. This decision not only hampers the ability of food banks to meet the increasing demand but also puts additional strain on our neighbors who are already struggling to put food on the table,” said Julie Bancroft, CEO of Feeding Pennsylvania.
Three million dollars was appropriated for the administration of the new SUN Bucks (Summer EBT) program, which will draw down $120 million in federal funds to ensure families with children can have access to food during the summer months. SUN Bucks was one of the programs Lutherans advocated for on Lutheran Day in May.
Universal school breakfasts continued to be funded, but the addition of universal lunches did not make the final budget.
“Our hunger ministries and congregations are seeing continued increases in the number of hungry children and families,” DePasquale said. “Pennsylvania must complement our renewed commitment to equitable education funding with universal school meals, because we know that students who are nourished in body are ready to flourish in their education.”
Despite the disappointing lack of investment in addressing hunger, LAMPa found many more pieces of the final budget to applaud as steps forward in creating a Commonwealth that cares for our neighbors and God’s creation.
Affordable Housing Boosted
Lutherans were instrumental in setting up the Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement (PHARE) fund, which expands opportunity for people in need and revitalizes communities. Funded through a portion of the PA Realty Transfer Tax (RTT), PHARE supports hundreds of projects annually to end homelessness, support home ownership, rehabilitate blighted properties, and provide housing for veterans, the elderly, and re-entry community. The final budget answered advocates’ calls for raising the cap on this fund to $100 million by 2026, doubling the state’s ability to fund these projects.
“We regret to report that the Whole Home Repairs Program once again received no additional funding in this year’s budget. We are hopeful that further assessment of the program’s outcomes will generate a renewed push for funding in 2025,” said Aaron Zappia of the Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania, of which LAMPa is a member.
Other housing and homelessness programs funded include a $5 million increase for the Homeless Assistance Program, and new investments to assist those facing eviction and the Local Government Emergency Housing grant program.
“In the aftermath of the U.S. Supreme Court’s Grant’s Pass decision, we’re delighted that Pennsylvania has chosen to invest in care of people and finding creative ways to invest in affordable housing,” said LAMPa’s Communications and Advocacy Engagement Manager, the Rev. Erin Jones.
Much More to Do with Renewable Energy
The budget includes $25 million for the Solar for Schools Grant Program, which Lutherans have advocated for in recent months, including at Lutheran Day this past May. This program is an important step for Pennsylvania to increase renewable energy and create good paying, sustainable jobs, while helping our schools reduce their energy costs. It also makes it possible for Pennsylvania to draw down millions more in federal infrastructure dollars through the Inflation Reduction Act.
Other investments were made in environmental conservation, including the Clean Stream Fund, Abandoned Wells Plugging, and preventing crypto-mining companies from state tax credits, discouraging energy-intensive data centers from expanding in Pennsylvania.
However, no other significant commitment to increasing Pennsylvania’s production of clean, renewable energy or addressing the climate crisis was reflected in the final budget.
“We hope that the continued advocacy of individuals and congregations who take the call of stewardship of creation seriously will result in legislation and action that can move beyond conservation to ‘promote a just transition from fossil fuels to a clean-energy future that leaves no one behind,’” Jones said, quoting the ELCA’s Social Message on the Climate Crisis.
Other Good Investments
Lutheran advocates rallied this year behind the call to provide period products in public schools. LAMPa and allies delivered hundreds of postcards and emails to lawmakers calling for this simple, yet meaningful investment. LAMPa is pleased the $3 million was included in the final budget and looks forward to advocating for more ways to end period poverty in Pennsylvania.
“We were so delighted with how this simple ask grabbed the attention and imagination of our congregations and members,” Jones said. “It’s a testimony to the beauty of what can happen when we listen to the real needs of our neighbors and take timely action. I loved that the story of the hemorrhaging woman was the Gospel text the Sunday before the budget was passed. I think it showed the Spirit was moving with this particular campaign.”
The budget also included investments in public safety and gun violence prevention programs, notably accompanied by the establishment of a Gun Violence Prevention Office.
“We are pleased that the legislature recognized the life-saving success of programs like these and made the right decision to increase state funding for them,” said Adam Garber, Executive Director of Ceasefire PA, with whom LAMPa partners on gun violence advocacy. “Of course, compromises were made and there are still many provisions to fight for.”
In light of the assassination attempt on former President Trump in Butler, it is clear that no one is immune from the realities of gun violence, and the ability to study and react to the impact of policy decisions on the ground will be a step forward in promoting safety for all.
Other significant investments the budget addressed include addressing health care needs. The Pennie Wrap Subsidy increase means more people can afford reliable health insurance; a commitment to studying and supporting black maternal health will mean that record levels of maternal mortality will be addressed; increasing support for individuals with disabilities, seniors, and caregivers means more families will find the support they have been waiting for. The Governor’s office promised a commitment along with monetary investment to clear the waiting list for adults with disabilities awaiting caseworkers.
Overall, the budget is a clear work of compromise. “We’re grateful for a legislature and governor’s office willing to listen to one another and find ways forward. This is not a perfect budget, but it is one that shows the power of raising our voices and working across our divides,” said DePasquale. “As we head into the fall, we will continue to work on bipartisan measures that passed the House in the last weeks of budget season. We know the stories and experiences of our ministries can make a difference in getting those measures across the finish line.”
Find out how your representative and senator voted, and call or email them to thank those who worked to get this budget passed.
