Harrisburg, PA – July 12, 2026 – On Sunday, the Pennsylvania General Assembly sent an approved FY 2026-2027 budget bill to the Governor for his signature.
Senator Patty Kim (D-Dauphin) voted in favor of this year’s general appropriations bill and issued the following statement on the completion of this year’s state budget negotiations:
“This budget is a product of compromise. While there is no such thing as a perfect state budget, I am proud that we were able to deliver one that is balanced and realistic while also providing meaningful investments in our communities this year.
At its core, the finalized budget invests in Pennsylvanians. From our youngest to our most senior, this budget delivers funding to those who need it most. I’m pleased to see increased investments in our public-school students, including an additional $9.4 million for Harrisburg School District, an additional $6.7 million for Central Dauphin School District, and an additional $2.1 million for Steelton-Highspire School District. The budget also allocates an additional $565 million for adequacy funding, making more progress on addressing our unconstitutional education funding system.
This year, we’re seeing a long-awaited cost of living adjustment for our hometown heroes–teachers, police, and firefighters–who retired before July 2001 and have been struggling to make ends meet on outdated pensions. And I’m proud that in nursing homes across the Commonwealth, an additional $81 million will go towards caring for our seniors, and staff and residents will feel a new sense of stability with an increased floor on the nursing home Budget Adjustment Factor. Our seniors deserve the best, and this budget makes strides towards ensuring they get just that.
I am pleased that the 2026-27 budget puts money back into the pockets of Pennsylvanians. As a result of this budget, almost 1 million Pennsylvanians will get a tax cut under the Working Pennsylvanians Tax Credit program, which received over $200 million in funding for tax relief this year. It also brings about $1 billion in property tax relief for homeowners.
The budget also keeps our communities safer by appropriating an additional $62 million for Violence Intervention and Prevention Programs and benefits our first responders by increasing the maximum loan amounts for fire and EMS companies across the state.
Best of all, the budget funds all of these impactful programs and initiatives without raising taxes on hardworking Pennsylvanians or pulling from the state’s nearly $8 billion Rainy Day Fund.
As members of the General Assembly, it’s our job to come to the table and work together despite our many differences in opinions. I’m grateful that all parties were able to collaborate, compromise, and get this budget into the hands of Pennsylvanians.”
More information on this year’s general appropriations bill can be found here.
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