Shapiro's budget delivered a substantial increase for schools this year, while lawyers for the schools that sued the state are asking for a $1.3 billion increase for the next fiscal cycle, or almost 13% more.
The state is projected to bring in less than $47 billion in tax collections in the 2025-26 fiscal year — likely well below what Shapiro will propose in spending, especially after the state issues refunds.
However, this year's $47.6 billion spending plan required about $3 billion of surplus cash to balance, eliciting warnings from Republicans that the state must slow the pace of spending or risk depleting its surplus within several years.
Josh Shapiro is expected to seek more money for public schools and public transit when he delivers his third budget proposal to lawmakers Tuesday.
Shapiro is under pressure from education allies and Democratic lawmakers to marshal billions more for schools in response to a court decision that found Pennsylvania’s system of public school funding violates the constitutional rights of students in the poorest districts.
