State Sen. Scott Hutchinson is joining his Republican colleagues expressing concerns about Gov. Josh Shapiro’s proposed budget.

Shapiro’s 2026-27 $53.3 billion budget proposal would increase spending by $2.7 billion, a 5.4% increase over the current year. That rate of spending growth would ultimately take more money out of the pockets of taxpayers at a time when many Pennsylvania families are still dealing with the affordability crisis caused by Biden-era inflation.

The growth in spending is primarily from the Department of Human Services (nearly a $1.4 billion increase) and the Department of Education (more than a $900 million increase). Costs for the Department of Corrections would also increase by $140 million under Shapiro’s budget despite the closure of two state correctional facilities.

The spending plan would take $4.6 billion out of the state’s emergency reserves in the Rainy Day Fund.

“At first glance, this budget spends way too much,” Hutchinson said. “We spent too much last year, and the governor is doubling down this year. I don’t know how Pennsylvanian taxpayers can afford it. There are gimmicks in this proposal that overestimate projected revenues while underestimating spending. “There’s also a hidden tax increase on businesses by introducing combined reporting, which requires multi-state corporations to report profits not earned in Pennsylvania. The governor’s proposal is counting on making billions of dollars of additional tax revenue from businesses through this change. We have a lot of work to do, and I’m glad we’re starting early. We must think of the Pennsylvania taxpayer first and foremost through every decision we make.”