Pennsylvania citizens deserve a worthwhile state budget

As the summer months pass and fall is in sight, one thing stands out as a distressing harbinger for the future: the seeming lack of motivation and progress in getting a new budget passed for the commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Let’s be honest — the budget produced by the Legislature was a bit of gamesmanship lacking vision and much-needed increases in revenue.

There are four main issues that must be addressed in the 2015-2016 state budget.

We need to continue the administration’s commitment to home and community-based services. Restoring the previous cuts to human services now will allow for greater independence and many more opportunities for individuals now and later. A child’s ZIP code should not determine the quality of his education. We need to move away from a property tax-reliant model now. This will result in a more enriched, viable learning environment for all students throughout the commonwealth later. Finally, we must increase revenue. Taxing Marcellus Shale extraction is a good place to start.

There is no excuse for a substandard budget to be passed. The citizens of the commonwealth deserve much better from our leaders now, later and always.

As Franklin D. Roosevelt once said, “The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today.” Let Pennsylvania have a greater tomorrow by putting in extraordinary work today. JARED GARFIELD

Oakland