(The Center Square) – It’s three strikes for the divided Pennsylvania legislature and its leader, Gov. Josh Shapiro.
Monday came and went without a budget deal hammered out. The new fiscal year begins Tuesday. And it’s the third time in as many years that it’s been late with no clear end in sight.
For now, the missed deadline doesn’t mean much. Most services and offices will function throughout the summer, though tardiness is becoming a pattern.
In 2023, Shapiro’s first year in office, parts of the budget weren’t finished until December. The following year, the governor signed off on July 12.
The Republican-controlled Senate released an arguably cryptic statement after completing its legislative calendar late in the afternoon. In it, leadership says “standing up for families and taxpayers remains our focus.”
“Pennsylvania is facing a multi-billion-dollar structural deficit that we must address this year to prevent a financial crisis and tax increases in the future,” the statement read. “Better aligning revenues with expenditures remains our top priority.
“We will continue to work with all parties to reach a final agreement on a spending plan that respects taxpayers, while allowing Pennsylvania to grow.”
The Democrat-controlled House likewise adjourned Monday for 24 hours after addressing a slate of bills, lifting the Sunday hunting ban among the most notable.
The Senate is on a 24-hour call. The vague timeline suggests that leaders haven’t yet given up on a budget deal in the coming days.
