2022-2023 PA State Budget includes largest Environmental Programs in a Decade.

The Pennsylvania state budget that was signed by Governor Tom Wolf last month looks to help the environment, while also saving residents money.

The budget which was signed by Governor Tom Wolf on July 8th, will  include one of the largest environmental programs in a decade, with $220 million in federal relief funds to help prevent nutrient and sediment pollution, and the Small Water and Sewer Program through the Commonwealth Financing Authority (CFA) getting refunded more then $300 million.

There’s also a $156 million increase to establish a program to support the rehabilitation, repair, and development of parks and forest areas within the common wealth.

The budget also has plans to give $25 million to help farmers who’ve been impacted by COVID-19, and an outbreak of the bird flu. This in turn will hopefully lower the price of eggs and poultry, two items that have been rising in price at grocery stores across America.

Alongside the outbreaks on the farm, the budget also includes $6 million for increased laboratory surveillance activities, to stay ahead of other diseases and outbreaks.

$3 million will be dedicated to combating the spotted lantern-fly. First spotted in the state  back in 2014, the spotted lantern-fly could have a serious impact on the country’s graph, orchard, and logging industries if allowed to spread.

$5 million will be going towards agriculture and hardwoods research, and anther $5 will be going towards agriculture marketing, with a 5% increase in funding to Penn State’s agriculture extension.

For more details about the current state budget, click here.