Pocono News Section

State Passes New Budget

State Passes New Budget - Monday, June 30, 2008 at 6:22PM EST

Reported by: Andy Mehalshick
Monday, Jun 30, 2008 @ 06:22pm EST
HARRISBURG- Pennsylvania has a new budget with 28 billion dollars in spending. But what does it mean to you?

The budget talks got downright nasty over the past few days as the budget was set to expire at midnight Monday night. The new budget means no tax hikes and could mean safer and less expensive travel across the state.

And a big part of the budget focuses on finding ways to cut gas prices. As we all pay more at the gas pump there is yet more talk from Harrisburg about finding alternative fuels.

For gas station owner Phil Pisano, he's heard the talk before. "A lot more talk than action, a lot more usually. I don't know what they can do right now the way fuel is," he said.

The budget calls for some $650 million to find ways to lower energy costs. For drivers like Dave Williams, any effort is better than no effort. "At least he's trying to do something. I don't see anybody else trying to. Obama says if he's elected he going to try, well at least try," he said.

Governor Rendell says the overall budget is aimed at improving the quality of life for all Pennsylvanians, including rebuilding our transportation system. "All of these things together will in my judgment bring a tremendous amount of substantial growth to the commonwealth it will act as a tremendous economic stimulus," said the governor.

The budget deal also means that 25,000 state workers will not be furloughed Tuesday. That happened in last year’s budget battle, closing all state offices just before the big Fourth of July holiday weekend.