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<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; The Pennsylvania House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved a $32.7 billion spending package for the state&#8217;s approaching fiscal year Wednesday.</p><p>State Rep. Gerald Mullery, D-Newport Township, said he was happy to support what he called &#8220;a responsible, on-time budget that protects taxpayers because it contains no tax or fee increases.&#8221;</p><p>The centerpiece of the no-new-taxes spending package, unveiled just a day earlier, was approved by the House 188-10. It was negotiated behind closed doors by Republican majority leaders with Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf. It now heads to the Senate for consideration.</p><p>The package increases spending through the state&#8217;s main operating account by 2 percent over the current year&#8217;s budget of $32 billion. The increase goes largely to public schools, social services, pensions and prisons. It also creates a $60 million off-budget grant program for school safety.</p><p>However, House officials say it taps one-time cash sources to shift about $800 million in Medicaid costs off-budget.</p><p>The new fiscal year begins July 1.</p><p>Mullery, who serves as Democratic chairman of the House Education Committee&#8217;s Subcommittee on Career and Technical Education, was particularly pleased with the plan&#8217;s commitment to CTE programs.</p><p>&#8220;As a commonwealth, it&#8217;s important that we train students for the jobs that will be available in the future, and we do just that by providing more CTE programs,&#8221; Mullery said.</p><p>Altogether, Mullery said $40 million is in the budget for PA Smart, Wolf&#8217;s initiative to boost workforce development, computer science and STEM training. </p><p>Rep. Mike Carroll, D-Avoca, said he voted for the budget and is pleased it was approved by the House.</p><p>&#8220;The budget recognizes the need for additional education funding from pre-K to higher education, while holding the line on income and sales taxes,&#8221; Carroll said. &#8220;While there are other priorities I would like to have included in the bills related to the budget, their consideration is not hindered going forward.&#8221;</p><p>Rep. Tarah Toohil, R-Butler Township, also supported the spending plan. She said every school district in her 116th Legislative District will receive a funding increase under the proposal. </p><p>&#8220;There is $100 million more allocated for basic education, an additional $25 million for early childhood education, while special education will increase by $15 million,&#8221; Toohil said. &#8220;In fact, this budget sets a new high of $12.3 billion for PreK-12 education. In addition, there was $25 million added to a program that allows for school choice.&#8221;</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Toohil </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/web1_Tarah-Toohil-1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Toohil </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/web1_Gerald-Mullery-cmyk201742915236533.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Mullery </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/web1_Gerald-Mullery-cmyk201742915236533.jpg</photo1><caption1>Mullery </caption1><photoCredit1></photoCredit1></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Bill O&#8217;Boyle</p><p>boboyle@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Bill O&#8217;Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle. The Associated Press contributed to this story.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Local Democrats, Republicans vote for $32.7B Pa. budget package