(Harrisburg, Pa.) Pa Governor Tom wolf shared his final budget proposal on Tuesday, February 8, 2022,  with a focus on taking advantage of a surplus to focus on education.

16th District State Rep. Rob Matzie attended that session and said via e-mail “The Governor’s budget serves as a blueprint, a working framework to be debated and negotiated moving forward. The end product can sometimes look much different than what was presented. At first glance, there are several areas that I can fully support. More money for education at all levels, funding for technology improvements for public safety, increasing opportunities for workers, and investments to make healthcare more affordable are priorities that I share. It also calls for the implementation of new programs and funding to support veterans and active military, which is long overdue. As always, I’ll work with my colleagues on both sides of the isle and ultimately support what best serves Beaver County and the residents of my district. Most importantly, it holds the line on taxes and actually decreases some business taxes.”

In the budget address to a joint House and Senate session, Wolf spoke about progress made in his two terms as Pennsylvania governor. When he took office in 2014, the Commonwealth had a budget deficit of $2 billion to $3 billion, and the Rainy Day Fund was down to its last $231,000. As the first governor since 1987 to turn over a budget surplus to a successor, Wolf wants $1.9 billion to benefit students, from pre-K through college.

Wolf proposed $70 million for high-quality pre-K programs, along with $1.4 billion for K-through-12 public education, with a focus on equitable support for underfunded schools. He also continued his long-standing appeal to raise the minimum wage from $7.25.

Wolf is requesting a minimum wage of $12 an hour by July 1, with annual 50-cent increases to get to $15 in 2028. Senate President Pro Tem Jake Corman, R-Centre, said hearings will begin soon for a final budget by June that, in his words, “meets the needs of the Commonwealth.”