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Why Supporting our Schools Should Support the Taxpayer

Educating our children is one of the most important responsibilities we have in state government and should not be taken lightly.  This responsibility is a duty clearly defined in our state’s constitution. Article III, Section 14 reads: 

“The General Assembly shall provide for the maintenance and support of a thorough and efficient system of public education to serve the needs of the Commonwealth.” 

As your state senator, I have consistently advocated for strong state investments in our public schools. Over the years, the Commonwealth has made significant progress in increasing education funding, particularly through the Basic Education Funding (BEF) line item. This is the primary source of annual state support for our public schools. By increasing the state’s share of funding, we help stabilize local school budgets and reduce the need for local resident funding and the need for school boards to raise property taxes. From the 2020-2021 budget through the 2026-2027 budget, we increased funding for K-12 public schools by $5.1 billion, or 40.4 percent.

When school districts plan their budgets, they rely on three main sources: federal funds, state funds and local property taxes. Increasing the state’s contribution is a tool I have to help remove the pressure off local taxpayers. That is why I have consistently advocated for fair and appropriate increases in Basic Education Funding dollars, so that local school boards can spend more time improving education and reducing your local tax burden, your property tax bill. However, how the school boards spend this money and the further decisions they make will determine how these funds are utilized to the best capacity.   

It’s no surprise to many of you that some residents in my district pay the highest school property taxes in the state. My office hears consistently from residents about this inflated burden, and I wholeheartedly agree! While the state does not set local school district tax rates, I believe the increased state investment, that I have supported, should be used to help offset these rates and relieve pressure on local families. You can find more information about individual school district spending, student enrollment trends, teaching staff numbers, special education, average yearly progress and more by visiting their website here.

Positive Local School Funding Trends 

Below is a breakdown of the Basic Education Funding (BEF) increased state allocations for school districts in the 40th Senatorial District. This chart compares state support from ten years ago, five years ago, and today. 

Carbondale School District 

2016: $8,534,917 

2021: $9,740,592 

2026: $13,172,257

East Stroudsburg Area School District 

2016: $14,982,944 

2021: $18,273,860 

2026: $26,771,761

Mid Valley School District 

2016: $4,146,660 

2021: $5,144,477 

2026: $7,647,572

North Pocono School District 

2016: $8,496,461 

2021: $9,517,924 

2026: $11,142,316

Pleasant Valley School District 

2016: $22,269,473 

2021: $23,052,649 

2026: $26,731,338

Pocono Mountain School District 

2016: $26,847,312 

2021: $29,761,380 

2026: $37,498,240

Stroudsburg Area School District 

2016: $13,718,063 

2021: $15,879,729 

2026: $21,767,221

Valley View School District 

2016: $7,837,080 

2021: $8,441,594 

2026: $10,509,261

Wallenpaupack School District 

2016: $5,187,357 

2021: $6,243,856 

2026: $8,964,029

Wayne Highlands School District 

2016: $8,265,425 

2021: $9,148,459 

2026: $ 11,674,698

Western Wayne School District 

2016: $5,044,171 

2021: $5,475,927 

2026: $ 7,383,176

These figures demonstrate the continued upward trend in state funding and my commitment to fighting for our schools and taxpayers alike. As always, I will continue working to invest in the quality of education our students deserve while also pushing for smarter, fairer tax policy that supports families across our region. In the meantime, stay connected to your school boards and be sure they are spending productively and responsibly as this is where your school property tax bill is determined. 

Residents Needs Real Protections on Data Center Development

This week, the Governor announced what our community has known all along: we need stronger standards to control data center development and protect our communities. But his announcement begs the question — if the Governor apparently has the authority to implement stronger statewide standards, why did it take this long to act?

While I have been fighting for a year and half in my district and Harrisburg to protect residents from unchecked data center development, the Governor has been rolling out the red carpet across our Commonwealth. And as I have said before, the Governor’s GRID proposal does not go far enough to protect our communities. I continue to be a leading voice on the need for a statewide moratorium on data center development until strong protections are in place for our residents. This executive order should have included a moratorium as well. He is signaling that meaningful action is being taken but only making modest changes at the state level.

The people of Pennsylvania know who has been in their corner on this, and they also know who has fast-tracked permitting for data center developers.

Celebrating Friendship at the AARP Picnic

Lots of friendship and community spirit on display at the annual AARP Pocono Chapter 633 Picnic in East Stroudsburg! Mariclaire from my office joined me with plenty of helpful information and resources to share. Always wonderful spending time with our local seniors!

Celebrating America’s 250th with Bells Across PA

A patriotic unveiling at Kinsley’s ShopRite in Brodheadsville for America250PA’s Bells Across PA! Beautifully hand-painted by Pleasant Valley art teacher Brenda Mackey, the bell showcases special local landmarks and will remain at Kinsley’s as a reminder of America’s 250th anniversary and how blessed we are to call this country home.

Thank you to the Kinsley’s team for hosting and helping bring this wonderful celebration to our community!

Scenes from the 40th District

This week’s photo is courtesy of Terry of Brodheadsville, with this breathtaking closeup of a hummingbird! This picture has been shared on my social media and posted to the 40^th Senatorial District Photo Gallery.

I am inviting residents of the 40^th Senatorial District to share their photography and help capture the beauty and character of our community. Whether it’s a stunning landscape, a lively community event, or a cherished historical landmark, I encourage you to submit photos that highlight the unique aspects of our district, which includes parts of Lackawanna and Wayne counties, and all of Monroe County.

Click here to submit your work and learn more.