(The Center Square) – It’s 52 days into the state’s “new” year and lawmakers still don’t know how much taxpayer money they will spend to keep government running.
Gov. Josh Shapiro proposed $50 billion in February, including a nearly $300 million boost for public transit. The latter is a sticking point between the Democrat-controlled House and Republican-controlled Senate.
Like the governor, House leaders want to divert a portion of sales tax revenue to support transit services, like the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority. After years of a pandemic-induced slump and high-profile crimes, SEPTA has resorted to fare increases and service cuts to make the best of a roughly $250 million budget deficit.
The Senate majority isn’t against more money for SEPTA and other transit agencies. They just want to use the $2.4 billion Pennsylvania Transportation Trust Fund to pay for it. Democrats say it’s reserved for maintenance upgrades, not operational shortfalls.
Shapiro said this week its time for both sides to make “tough choices” to reach and agreement.
