Altoona Times

Following the approval of the state budget, Representative Lou Schmitt from Altoona expressed his concerns over its impact on local education. Schmitt, who opposed the spending plan, highlighted that "children who attend Altoona Area School District will miss out on educational opportunities after an untold amount of money was slashed in the budget approved by House Democrats." He pointed out that the budget reduces 55% from the Level Up fund, which supports districts historically underfunded.

Schmitt criticized the overall increase in spending by 6%, describing it as unsustainable and likely to lead to future tax hikes. He also mentioned that funds are being drawn from strategic reserves to address current budget shortfalls without solving long-term deficit issues.

On a positive note, Schmitt acknowledged that funding for ALS victims has been restored to $1.5 million. He stated, "As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, I fought hard to stop a proposal by Gov. Josh Shapiro to cut funding by 40%. I thank the governor for recognizing the error and applaud his willingness to restore funding to last year’s level."

Schmitt assured continued advocacy for Blair County residents, especially children affected by cuts in Level Up funding.