Gov. Josh Shapiro on Tuesday, Feb. 6, proposed what he called “historic” increases to education funding in his 2024-25 budget proposal. But local school officials and lawmakers are voicing skepticism.

The proposal includes a $1.1 billion increase in basic education funding, a $50 million increase for special education funding, continuing a $50 million annual investment in school safety and security improvements and $300 million in sustainable funding for environmental repair projects in school buildings.

Also included in the proposal is a $5 million increase to $15 million for student teacher stipends to support Pennsylvanians training to become certified and committed educators in the Commonwealth. It also invests $10 million for the Educator Talent Recruitment Account and $450,000 to support the Talent Recruitment Office at the state Department of Education.

Butler Area School District superintendent Brian White said any funding that helps avoid a tax increase locally is a benefit, but added he is concerned about the long-term sustainability of the funding.

“We’re underfunded in the Butler Area School District,” White said.

Any funding that helps the district avoid raising taxes that residents and businesses pay is a “blessing,” he said Wednesday.

He said he is concerned problems could arise next year if the amount of funding in 2024-25 isn’t maintained.

“The governor has proposed a significant amount of money. It might be good for today, but could cause problems in the future,” White said. “You don’t hire a teacher for one year. If the money isn’t there next year, that’s a problem.”

He cited Shapiro’s planned use of state budget surplus funds to cover the proposal.

“What happens when that’s gone? Who pays?” White said.

According to Shapiro, the budget uses $3 billion of the surplus while leaving $11 billion in the bank, and does not raise taxes even if every initiative is funded.

The state House and Senate appropriations committees have scheduled three weeks of hearings about the budget proposal beginning Feb. 20. Members of Shapiro’s cabinet will be called to answer questions about the proposed budgets for their departments.

Sen. Elder Vogel Jr., R-47th, echoed some of White’s comments.

The budget proposal contains a $1.5 billion increase in education funding for the fiscal year, but no plan for future funding, he said.

“It has a lot more questions than answers,” Vogel said.

In addition, the budget proposal includes $975 million to combine the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education universities and community colleges while the number of college-age students has declined, he said.

Vogel said he hopes the secretary of education can address those issues in the budget hearings.

Rep. Marci Mustello, R-11th, who serves as Republican leader of the House appropriations subcommittee on education, has concerns about the proposed basic education subsidy and Shapiro’s proposal to combine the State System of Higher Education universities and community colleges in the state.

“While the governor provides a substantial increase for basic education funding, he provides no road map for actual change or improvement, let alone transparency and accountability,” Mustello said.

She expressed similar concerns about the higher education proposal.

“As for higher education, he speaks of grandiose ideas or the ‘blueprint,’ yet provides zero details on how such a monumental overhaul will be implemented,” Mustello said. “In addition, the governor does not say how actual performances will be measured.”

Rep. Aaron Bernstine, R-8th, said the money would be better spent on a school choice program.

“This is typical of Democrats in Harrisburg. They continue to throw money at something and hope it makes it better,” Bernstine said.

He said the state currently spends $20,000 per year for each student in kindergarten through 12th grade, but some schools are not providing students with a quality education.

“Spending more money on those schools isn’t going to improve the student experience. We need more accountability through school choice,” Bernstine said.

Empowering parents with the opportunity to chose the school their children attend is the best way to make schools accountable for the education they provide, he said.