‘Come on’: Gov. Josh Shapiro aims for bipartisan support of 2024-25 budget, but digs heels in for minimum wage hike
Trending
As Gov. Josh Shapiro delivered an estimated $48.3 billion budget proposal Tuesday, those living in Greater Williamsport listened.
Shapiro unveiled his second budget during a joint legislative session in Harrisburg, emphasizing a commitment to investments in economic development, public transportation, safety and education.
Shapiro's proposed budget estimates $48.3 billion in expenditures, and is 9% larger than his $45.8 billion proposal last year, according to reports out of Harrisburg.
Shapiro delivered it with a conciliatory tone asking for bipartisan support, but when he called for a minimum wage increase from $7.25 per hour to $15, he issued a "come on" to those in the chambers.
Not all, but many businesses continue to pay workers $7.25 an hour, the minimum wage that is allowable under the state law that has not budged in 15 years.
It has become an issue for some workers in the hospitality industry (such as hotels) who live in the Northern Tier counties who must drive across the border to New York, where the state recently passed a $15 an hour minimum wage, and with slightly higher wages in New York City, Long Island and Westchester County.
"We are falling behind," Shapiro said. "It is anti-competitive and hurting our workers."
"Every single one of our neighboring states have raised the minimum wage, as have 30 other states. Let's finally get this done together," he said.
"This year, we have a real chance to build safer communities, become more competitive economically and invest in our students and their success -- this budget lays out a comprehensive and aggressive focus on doing just that -- without raising taxes and maintaining a surplus of $11 billion at the end of June 2025," Shapiro said in his opening remarks.
Vowing he looked forward to working with the General Assembly, he considered his budget as a step to solve the most pressing problems residents face and to "meet this moment responsibly and with bipartisan compromise."
Among the highlights was a 1.75% increase in the state share of public transit funding, including a $282.8 million increase in transit funding and $160 million in support of larger cities transit.
Those using public buses and other forms of transit should expect "clean, safe and on-time transportation," he said.
Organizations such as the River Valley Transit Authority, based in Williamsport, receive state and federal dollars to provide bus and transit service throughout the city and beyond.