For Immediate Release
February 16, 2010
Contact: Kristin Crawford
717-787-4420
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Brubaker Introduces Legislation to Establish Two-Year Budget Cycle 

HARRISBURG – Sen. Mike Brubaker (R-36) introduced legislation today that would establish a two-year budget cycle in Pennsylvania to promote greater efficiency and productivity in state government. 

Senate Bill 1232 would reduce the time and resources necessary to enact a new budget each year and encourage the governor and the Legislature to incorporate long-term perspectives in budgeting. The plan would also allow for a more in-depth review of how state agencies spend taxpayer dollars. 

"The time we spend each year debating spending and taxation could be better spent reviewing the performance of state programs and agencies to determine where taxpayer dollars are best spent," Brubaker said. "This simple measure will help to reduce the political battles we suffer through each year and allow the General Assembly and the governor to get a clearer picture of the programs and services that provide the greatest benefit to the communities we represent." 

Senate Bill 1232 would help state agencies and other groups that rely on state funding to achieve long-term planning goals by creating more predictability in the budget process.  

"Our current budget process is repetitive, time-consuming and inefficient," Brubaker said. "By adopting a two-year budget cycle, we can help state government budget more efficiently and address many of the problems that have led to the past seven years of missed budget deadlines." 

The proposed legislation would require an amendment to the state Constitution. To become law, the bill would have to pass in two consecutive two-year legislative sessions before going before the voters for final approval via referendum.