Pennsylvania has reached the four-month mark without a state budget.

The annual deadline for the state government’s spending plan is June 30.

We believe it is inexcusable that our state is within hours of being four months overdue for passing a budget — but, as we editorialized this past summer, the proposal offered by Gov. Josh Shapiro was unrealistic.

Shapiro has unsuccessfully pressed lawmakers for a $3.6 billion increase in spending. The proposal, in our estimation, does little to address court rulings that Pennsylvania’s system of funding public education does not comply with the state’s constitution — rulings to which lawmakers and other officials seem, at best, indifferent.

It is irresponsible to obligate the state government for an additional $3.6 billion in spending. It likely would be irresponsible even if there wasn’t an expectation — a requirement — that the state government begin a process of revising how public schools are funded. But with that enormous task ahead, increasing spending by $3.6 billion is unacceptable.

We hope the governor and Democratic lawmakers can recognize these simple facts and will finally work with Republican legislators to draft a cautious budget that recognizes significant, court-ordered changes must be on the way — rather than continuing to leave the state without a budget because of an impractical and absurd demand for more spending.