The Budget in PA 

The Governor’s Budget is a statement of the commonwealth’s plan for state programs, the resources necessary to support that plan, a description of how resources are to be used and an assessment of the effects of programs on people and the environment. This information is presented so the levels of expenditure are associated with government services and, ultimately, with the resulting effects on important public policy issues and concerns faced by the commonwealth.

The General Assembly may add, change or delete any items in the budget proposed by the Governor, but the Governor retains veto power over the individual appropriations passed by the General Assembly. The Governor may also reduce individual appropriations, but may not increase them. A gubernatorial veto can be overridden only by a two-thirds majority.

The state budget process can be divided into four stages:

• Gubernatorial Preparation
• Approval
• Execution
• Program performance evaluation and financial audit

To view the budget in its entirety, select this link. For more detailed information on how to read the Governor’s Budget please select this link. To view a condensed and more user friendly version of the budget, select this link.