Northhampton News

Rep. Zach Mako of Lehigh/Northampton expressed his concerns regarding Governor Josh Shapiro's proposed budget for the fiscal year 2025-26. The proposal, amounting to $51.47 billion, has drawn criticism from Mako, who described it as fiscally irresponsible.

Mako stated, "Gov. Shapiro’s budget proposals always seem to want to drive us over a fiscal cliff. He shows fiscal irresponsibility and an insatiable appetite to spend each year." He pointed out that the governor's plan includes a 7.5% increase in spending while revenue collections are projected to grow by only 2.8%. According to Mako, this discrepancy would lead to an unbalanced budget.

He further criticized the plan for its potential impact on state funds: "His plan would drain our General Fund surplus and then dip into the Rainy Day Fund. This would set us up for a catastrophe."

Mako assured constituents that this is just a proposal and emphasized his role in scrutinizing it through upcoming hearings as part of the House Appropriations Committee: "I will not tie my fellow Pennsylvanians to the tracks as Shapiro tries to send a train barreling at us."

The 183rd District represented by Mako includes several townships and boroughs across Lehigh and Northampton counties.