The 2013-14 state budget, which totals $28.37 billion, is responsible to the taxpayer while focusing heavily on supporting education and job creation – two important factors to the long-term success of our state.

The budget invests more than $10 billion for kindergarten through 12th grade schools – which marks the highest amount of state dollars ever devoted to education.

Included is a $122 million increase for basic education, along with additional funds for community libraries, early childhood programs and mobile science centers for rural areas.

On the higher education front, state-owned universities will receive level funding, with $212 million to community colleges, such as Lehigh, Carbon and Nor-thampton community colleges, and $519 million to the state-related institutions.

Career and technical education also plays a dynamic role in the job market, which is demanding workers to have proven, applicable skills that can be quickly upgraded and adapted in a variety of work settings.

Therefore, $3 million is being set aside for grants to career and technical schools to purchase new equipment in an effort to expand career and technical education opportunities.

In addition, funding is restored for the New Choices/New Options program, which offers services such as career development, job search skills and nontraditional career exploration; and a pilot program will be created to help unemployed Pennsylvania veterans find work.

The new state budget also allocates record state funding for older Pennsylvanians, individuals with disabilities, and domestic violence and rape crisis programs. These investments will go a long way in improving the lives of some of our most vulnerable citizens.

Public safety will be increased with a state appropriation to help with the training of 290 new state police troopers and 90 civilian dispatchers.

In addition to funding through the state budget, municipalities, local governments and many state programs are also benefitting from money generated from impact fees placed on companies drilling in the Marcellus Shale region.

Under the Act 13 of 2012 impact fee disbursement outline, Lehigh and Northampton counties will receive a total of more than $540,000 in Marcellus Shale impact fees, with Lehigh County receiving $295,556 and Northampton County receiving $249,942.

Counties and municipalities have the option to use these funds to address a variety of issues, including preservation and reclamation of water supplies; improvements to local roads and bridges; construction and repair of water and sewer systems; delivery of social services including domestic relations and drug and alcohol treatment; local tax reduction; local affordable housing needs; and assistance for county conservation districts.

In addition, impact fee revenue that is directed to state government will help to enforce clean air and water statutes; to plan for emergencies; to develop, deliver and sustain training and grant programs for first responders; and to help transition traditional fuel-powered vehicles to clean natural gas.

The commonwealth benefitted from a total of more than $202.4 million in impact fees this year, bringing the two-year total to more than $406.6 million.

As a result of prudent state budgets for the past couple of years, along with the passage of the impact fee legislation, Pennsylvania and its residents are experiencing an economic resurgence I am hopeful will continue to bring more businesses to the commonwealth and increase job opportunities for our residents.

For additional information about the 2013-14 budget and other legislative issues, visit julieharhart.com.