Gov. Wolf: State Faces Up To $5 Billion In COVID-19 Budget Deficit

Gov. Wolf last week estimated the Commonwealth faces a budget deficit of between $4.5 billion and $5 billion it will have to make up to cope with drastically reduced state revenues.  He made the estimate as he and other state Governors requested more aid from the federal government.

As of April 20, it will be 32 days since COVID-19 virus shutdown all non-life-sustaining businesses in Pennsylvania and STILL there is no commitment by the leaders of the Senate and House to use their $172 million operating surplus to help defray COVID-19 response costs or to help fill the hole in the state budget.

Senate and House leaders have made no effort to cut their own spending while Gov. Wolf has taken action to lay off 9,000 permanent state employees and an additional 2,500 wage employees as well as freeze spending. Read more here.

When will Senate and House leaders return their $172 million to taxpayers and small businesses to help in the COVID-19 response?

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[Posted: April 18, 2020]  PA Environment Digest