With a sigh of relief that there would not be a repeat of the budget impasse of last year, the House voted 132-68 to approve the budget bill ahead of its Friday deadline, writes Ginger Dunbar for Daily Local News.

The bill had strong support from representatives of Chester County with all but two voting in favor of the budget. The bill includes an increase in basic education funding of $200 million with an additional $25 million for Pre-K Counts and a $20 million increase for special education. Under the bill, school districts in Coatesville, Downingtown and Octorara will see increases between 3.1 and 3.9 percent.

State Rep., Harry Lewis of Caln, voted in favor of the bill.

“I am proud to say that this budget includes the money necessary to educate in a way that acknowledges the changes of our society, technologically, socially and financially,” he said.

The budget this year was achieved through an extraordinary level of bipartisan cooperation to ensure the stalemate of last year was not repeated. It also finds additional funds in areas such as meeting the state’s obligation for public pensions and Medicaid expansion.

The state Senate voted 47-3 to pass the bill on Wednesday with all senators who represent portions of Chester County voting in favor.

“It’s the best possible budget that can be achieved with the fiscal realities the state finds itself in,” said State Sen. Andrew Dinniman after voting in favor of the bill.

Read more about the state budget at Daily Local News here, and check out previous VISTA Today coverage here.