Each year, the state Legislature dedicates itself to passing a balanced, on-time budget that funds the state's core government functions and allows additional dollars to support vital programs and services for the people of Pennsylvania.

This year was no different. The final state budget meets our obligations, increases funding for K-12 education to historic levels, dedicates more dollars for public safety and human services, and still doesn't raise taxes on hard-working Pennsylvanians.

I am proud of all we were able to accomplish, given state revenue numbers ended up not meeting our expectations. In order to help our schools achieve academic success, we have dedicated a total of $10.5 billion for K-12 education, which is more state dollars than we have ever spent before.

This number includes an increase of $20 million for special education, which is receiving its first increase in six years, as well as $100 million in new money for block grants that gives schools the flexibility to direct money where they need it most.

School districts in the 183rd Legislative District will receive the following:

·Catasauqua Area School District: $6,833,803, a 5.7-percent increase of $366,807.

·Northampton Area School District: $23,907,330, a 5.6-percent increase of $1,286,207.

·Northern Lehigh School District: $10,539,414, a 4.5-percent increase of $454,279.

·Parkland School District: $22,006,263, a 10-percent increase of $2,008,888.

·Whitehall-Coplay School District: $13,789,798, a 7.4-percent increase of $947,607.

Making sure kids start out on the right foot and are adequately prepared for school is vital, which is why we also appropriated $97.28 million for Pre-K Counts and $237.52 million for early intervention services.

Community colleges are set to receive an additional $3.5 million in funding and a new scholarship program, called Ready to Succeed, will dedicate $5 million to enable more middle-income students to attend college.

To enhance public safety across the state, the budget includes funding to train four new Pennsylvania State Police cadet classes, which will put 350 additional troopers on the streets.

To ensure better care of some of our most vulnerable citizens, the budget also includes an increase of $13.28 million to provide home and community-based services for an additional 1,250 individuals with intellectual disabilities and autism. A 10 percent increase in funding will also benefit the appropriation for domestic violence and rape crisis centers across the state.

A special cause close to my heart is an appropriation of $2 million for the state's Children's Advocacy Centers (CACs), which provide comprehensive treatment and services under one roof for abused kids. This allocation builds on the funding I have secured through a new law which uses an increase in the cost for duplicate birth certificates to create a reliable funding stream to support the centers.

The state budget is a complex document that accomplishes a lot of the items Pennsylvania residents have expressed are their top priorities, and with only a modest 1.8 percent increase over the 2013-14 budget.

For more information on the 2014-15 state budget, visit JulieHarhart.com.