2021 - increased state spending by 8.8% (or $3.2B) over the previous year’s budget
2020 - increased state spending by 7.4% over the previous year’s budget
2019 - increased state spending by 4.7% over the previous year’s budget
Sources with hyperlinks:
2021 Budget Takeaways
By Nathan Benefield, June 29, 2021
“The spending increase greatly exceeds inflation and population growth. The new budget includes total ongoing general fund spending of $39.78 billion, an increase of 8.8% over last year’s enacted budget.”
Citizens Alliance of Pennsylvania position on SB 1350
“SB 1350 increased spending by more than 7.4 percent over the previous year's enacted budget. Spending increases should be limited to the rate of inflation plus population growth. The rate of inflation plus population growth is 2.1%. In other words, this budget increased spending by more than three times what would be reasonable.”
This Year’s Budget Continues Past Trends
By Tirzah Duren, June 28, 2019
“…this appropriations bill represents a 4.7 percent increase over last year's enacted budget.”