You see it all the time at work.
There are deadlines… and then there are “real” deadlines.
In Harrisburg, however, the “deadline” for adopting the state budget in Pennsylvania is expiring.
Did you know that the Pennsylvania Constitution does not require a budget to be passed no later than June 30?
Representative Melissa Shusterman (D-Chester) wants to do something about it.
She is sending a sponsorship note it calls for changes to the state’s Administrative Code and Constitution to hold “our colleagues accountable for carrying out our civic duty to pass the state budget on a timely basis.”
Shusterman’s two-bill package proposal calls for an amendment to the Administrative Code that would require that if the General Assembly fails to pass a state budget by June 30, it remains in session every weekday after June 30 until the budget is passed.
The second bill would amend Pennsylvania’s constitution to require the governor to call a special session if a general appropriations bill is not passed by June 30.
In her memo, the Chester County Democrat wrote that “with every day of budget delays, schools, health care, human services, nonprofits and other essential services and organizations are denied the funds they need to provide for our residents and communities. These organizations and entities are often forced to either take on debt to continue operating or close services until funding is secured.”
“It is our public responsibility to ensure that our schools, public service providers and communities receive the vital funding they need in a timely manner to prevent debt and disruptions to critical programs and services.”
The budget consists of two main parts. One is the expenditure plan, which sets out a plan for the Commonwealth’s financial expenditure and revenue collection for the financial year. The second consists of one or more code laws, which are pieces of legislation that determine how money is spent and may contain dozens of policy amendments.
Since 2015, the General Meeting has adopted the budget before The statutory deadline is June 30 four times – 2016, 2018, 2019 and 2021.
None of the three budget bills in progress Governor Josh Shapirosigned on time, with the earliest date for FY24-25 being July 11, 2024.
The budget for the financial year 2025-26 was entered into force on November 12.
