- Governor Shapiro’s budget proposal is a commonsense plan that builds on two years of progress by solving more problems and making Pennsylvania more competitive.
- The Governor’s budget proposal places a special emphasis on workforce development; cuts costs for health care, housing, and energy; invests in economic development; and continues bipartisan efforts to support Pennsylvania students.
- Governor Shapiro’s commonsense proposal maintains a balanced budget and cuts taxes – while saving taxpayers millions of dollars by eliminating red tape and duplicative government programs.
Harrisburg, PA — The Shapiro-Davis Administration’s proposed 2025-26 state budget prioritizes safety and opportunity for Pennsylvania’s youth and communities by further expanding afterschool programming and strengthening violence prevention efforts through the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD). Over the past two years, PCCD has provided more than $600 million in funding for over 3,500 grants across Pennsylvania to address and prevent violence in our communities. The 2025-26 budget builds on those investments in proven initiatives, taking bold action to support communities, reduce violence, and create brighter futures for young Pennsylvanians.
The Shapiro-Davis Administration is committed to ensuring that every child has access to safe spaces and enriching experiences outside of school,” said Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis, who serves as chair of PCCD. “Last year, we launched the BOOST—Building Opportunity through Out-of-School Time— initiative providing more than $11 million in grants to 46 afterschool programs across the Commonwealth. This year, we’re doubling down, proposing an additional $10 million investment in BOOST, along with a $10 million increase in Violence Intervention and Prevention (VIP) funding. These investments are not just about doing what’s right—they’re about making smart, data-driven decisions to build stronger, safer communities.
Afterschool and out-of-school-time programs yield a $7 return for every dollar invested, providing high-impact opportunities for youth development and violence prevention. Yet, demand far exceeds availability— for every child enrolled in an afterschool program, four more were waiting for a spot. This need was evident in the overwhelming response to the first BOOST grant cycle, where PCCD received nearly 300 applications requesting six times the available funding.
The 2025-26 budget also proposes an additional $10 million investment in VIP grants, further expanding the reach of community violence intervention strategies across Pennsylvania. VIP grants support a wide range of local projects, from street outreach and violence interruption programs to mentoring programs and initiatives addressing drivers of youth gun involvement to programs that prevent domestic violence and intimate partner violence involving firearms, and much more. This proposed increase will build on the significant investments the Shapiro-Davis Administration has made through VIP since 2023, including approving $85 million to support 131 grant projects statewide.
Pennsylvania is making progress in the fight against gun violence as a result of these investments
In 2023, the number of gun deaths in Pennsylvania dropped for the first time in four years, including a 16% decrease in homicides statewide – outpacing national trends. Preliminary findings from an ongoing evaluation of PCCD’s VIP Grants Program suggest that VIP funds are helping to fill gaps in many communities by increasing organizational capacity, providing critical programs and services, and addressing high demand and waitlists for programs.
Additionally, the proposed budget includes short-term funding to stabilize Pennsylvania’s Victims Compensation Assistance Program, administered by PCCD, and other victims’ services programs, ensuring better support for crime victims and survivors. It continues investments in school safety initiatives, including behavioral health improvements, for both public and nonpublic schools, and public safety security enhancements for nonprofit organizations. It also introduces a new block grant to fund adult probation, parole, and reentry services, with a focus on treatment-based supports, including jail-based medication-assisted treatment, to help improve service delivery and outcomes.
Watch the Governor’s full budget address to a joint session of the House and Senate here.
See here for the Governor’s full remarks as prepared for delivery.
See the full announcement of Governor Shapiro’s 2025-26 budget proposal here.
Read the Governor's 2025-26 Budget in Brief here.
Learn more about Governor Shapiro’s budget here at shapirobudget.pa.gov and see here for the full Commonwealth Budget documents