Berks County News

Rep. Mark Gillen, a Republican from Berks, has publicly expressed his opposition to the recently proposed state budget for 2023-24, which totals $45.55 billion. Gillen stated his concerns about the state's financial strategy, highlighting a discrepancy between expenditure and tax revenue.

"My recent 'no' vote on the state budget reflects my concern about spending more money than we are taking in via tax revenue," Gillen said. He emphasized the importance of fiscal responsibility, comparing it to how families manage their finances: "State government must live within its means, just like the families in our communities do."

Despite his opposition, Gillen acknowledged certain aspects of the budget that he supports. These include improvements in public safety and education sectors and an additional $500 million allocation to the Rainy Day savings fund.

Gillen also pointed out what he perceives as missed opportunities within the budget proposal. "The budget bill also represented a missed opportunity to address property tax elimination," he remarked. This perceived oversight and what he described as "unsustainable spend numbers" were key factors influencing his decision to vote against the proposal.