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Local lawmakers applauded House passage of a $32.7 million state budget calling for no tax increases.
State Rep. Garth Everett, R-Muncy, noted that with the economy continuing to improve and available revenues used to support the budget having increased, there was less pain coming up with a spending plan than in recent years.
"The other positive is it's on time," he said.
This year's budget was not passed until the fall, well after the June 30 deadline.
Spending increases once again were made for public and higher education, including an additional $662,000 for Pennsylvania College of Technology -- a 3 percent increase over this year.
"The message we are trying to send is we don't see any reason why they should get a tuition increase again," Everett said.
To which state Rep. Jeff Wheeland, R-Loyalsock, added, "Nor do I."
Each lawmaker voted in favor of the House version of the budget, which increases overall spending by 1.7 percent.
"I think the really good news is that this is the first time since the 2006-07 budget that we were able put money into the rainy day fund," Wheeland said.
About half of an expected $39 million surplus will go into the rainy day fund, he noted.
Both lawmakers noted that there are no drastic cuts to any parts of the budget.
"I would say a significant number of line items were flat-funded," Wheeland said.
Everett noted funding increases for opioid treatment and for people with intellectual and other disabilities. More money also is going to rural critical access hospitals such as Muncy Valley and Jersey Shore.
"We've come a long way since the recession," Wheeland said. "There is still much to do in upcoming budgets. We still have to control spending. The economy is coming back, even though Pennsylvania lags behind most of our contiguous states."
With more people employed, that brings additional sales and income tax revenues, he added.
But Wheeland said he remains committed to fiscal restraint.
"There is more need than there is money," he said. "We have to reduce debt, not grow it."
He said funding the state's pension funds will be an ongoing struggle.