budget

July 16, 2025

Bernstine Votes ‘No’ on Irresponsible State Budget Proposal

HARRISBURG – Rep. Aaron Bernstine (R-Butler/Lawrence) released the following statement after voting “no” on the 2025–26 Pennsylvania state budget, as House Democrats pushed through House Bill 1330, the General Appropriations bill. “This proposal spends too much, lacks transparency and sets up Pennsylvania for long-term fiscal trouble. “We are being asked to vote on a $50.6 billion spending plan without a full financial sheet, without a tax code and without a fiscal code. That’s not how responsible government works. “A budget isn’t just about how much money we spend; it’s about how that money is spent and how it impacts our future….

June 17, 2024

ECASD Board of Directors Approve Budget, Eliminate Nepotism Policy

The Ellwood City Area School District’s Board of Directors voted to approve the General Fund Budget for the 2024-25 fiscal year in the amount of $36,470,849 as well as the tax resolution setting the tax rates for the 2023-2024 fiscal year to include the ACT 679 $5 per capita tax, the ACT 511 $10 per capita tax (a shared tax by municipalities), property tax millage at 19.94 mills, Earned Income Tax at .5%, Realty Transfer Tax at .5% and the Occupational Privilege/Local Service Tax at $5.00 during the June 17 Regular Meeting. The move did not come without comment from…

September 1, 2023

Vogel: PA Senate Passed Critical Budget Implementations – But Now It’s Time To Get It To the Finish Line

HARRISBURG – Sen. Elder Vogel, Jr. (R-47) provided the following statement regarding Senate passage of critical budget implementation bills (Senate Bill 757 and House Bill 1300): “These key pieces of legislation contain the necessary implementation language which allows Pennsylvania to delegate the remaining budgetary funds for many key priorities including a two-year tuition freeze for PASSHE schools, reauthorizing assessments and payments for hospitals and increases to EMS reimbursement rates. We have worked tirelessly over the last several weeks to negotiate and craft these bills to ensure it is beneficial to all Pennsylvanians. “Throughout the entirety of this year’s budget process,…

May 16, 2023

NOTICE: Ellwood City Area School District Proposed Final Budget

In a notice made available by the district, the Ellwood City Area School District has proposed its final budget. The notice reads as follows: NOTICE is given that the Proposed Final Budget for the General Fund of the Ellwood City Area School District for the 2023-24 fiscal year in its most recent form is available for public inspection at the school district offices, 501 Crescent Avenue, Ellwood City, Pennsylvania, 16117. The budget will be presented for adoption as a Final Budget at a school boar meeting to be held in the Board Room of the Lincoln High School Building, 501…

March 2, 2023

Ellwood City Borough Council Adopts Utility Account Budget Plan

According to a press release made available by the Borough of Ellwood City, a utility account budget plan has been announced. The Ellwood City Borough Council adopted Resolution #2004-4 approving a budget payment plan for utility accounts under the following provisions: Customers may complete the application form provided by the Borough during the annual open enrollment period from the third Monday in March through the third Friday in April The first budget-billing amount will appear on the May utility bill. The maximum budget periods will be twelve (12) months with all balances due to be settled in the 12th month….

June 29, 2021

Bernstine Votes ‘No’ on State Budget That Increases Spending by 8.8%

HARRISBURG – Rep. Aaron Bernstine (R-Butler/Beaver/Lawrence) today voted “no” on the state budget for Fiscal Year 2021-22. Bernstine issued the following statement citing excessive government spending led to his negative vote. “When it comes to spending taxpayers’ money, I don’t think we ought to look at a budget and say it’s not perfect, but it’s good enough. This budget is an 8.8% increase in government spending, and that will set the stage for excessive borrowing and tax hikes when President Biden’s bailout money disappears. This budget does nothing to help our struggling local businesses or help to rebuild our economy,…

May 27, 2020

ECASD Board of Directors Passes Proposed Budget; Changes Likely

The Ellwood City Area School District’s Board of Directors passed a proposed general fund budget of $30,472,335 for the fiscal year 2020-2021 in a 5-4 vote. Voting “No,” Director Barbara Wilson said she has numerous questions regarding the budget. Her main concern is how the board can possibly pass a budget that forecasts a $3 million defecit. Wilson wasn’t alone in her dissent. Directors Jean Biehls, Leroy Cortez, and Kathy McCommons joined her in rejecting the budget. Board President Renee Pitrelli and Directors Jennifer Tomon, Erica Gray, Norman Boots, and Gary Rozanski voted to pass the budget. The proposed budget…

February 5, 2020

Bernstine Reacts to Governor Wolf Budget Address

HARRISBURG – Rep. Aaron Bernstine (R-Beaver/Butler/Lawrence) today joined his colleagues in a joint session of the General Assembly as Governor Tom Wolf delivered his budget address. Bernstine released the following statement on the governor’s proposal. “The governor today failed to mention the billions of dollars he wants to borrow from the taxpayers’ credit card. He claims his budget does not include any new taxes, but we know that debt doesn’t magically disappear. He’s mortgaging the paychecks of our children and grandchildren with his excessive overspending and borrowing agenda. “Instead of discussions about all the different ways to spend the taxpayers’…

February 5, 2020

Senator Vogel Responds to Governor’s Budget Proposal

The Senate will carefully study the $36.1 billion state General Fund budget for Fiscal Year 2020-21 unveiled by Governor Tom Wolf on Tuesday (February 4) before a joint session of the General Assembly, according to Senator Elder Vogel (R-47). “Obviously, it’s more of the same old, same old,” said Senator Vogel. “We hear that he doesn’t want to raise taxes, yet there is over $1 billion in new spending in the budget and that money has to come from somewhere. We don’t know where that is coming from yet. He is taking a lot of money out of other programs….