Pennsylvania school districts count on the state for a critical portion of school districts’ budgets. Knowing what to expect from the state is a key factor in school districts’ ability to decide what they can and cannot afford to do in planning for a new fiscal year. Yet if the state finds itself caught in a budget impasse, current state law gives each school district just 15 days after the passage of the general appropriations act to adopt its own budget, and 20 days to levy and assess property taxes. For school districts already worrying about what the fiscal year will bring, this is a tight and stressful deadline.

That is why I am re-introducing legislation to give school districts 30 days to adopt budgets following a state general appropriations act, and 35 days to levy and assess property taxes. This deadline extension will give school district officials the time to assess the impact of state funding on their finances and to take a careful, considered approach to passing a budget that works for students, teachers and staff.

Please join me in giving school districts more flexibility in passing a budget if a state budget is delayed at any point in the future, as we've had happen before. Your consideration and co-sponsorship are appreciated.

Prior Co-Sponsors (HB 111): CIRESI, SANCHEZ, SIEGEL, HARKINS, KINSEY, HADDOCK, MALAGARI, PROBST, HOHENSTEIN, HILL-EVANS, M. JONES, MADDEN, WARREN, CERRATO, D. WILLIAMS and GILLEN