Gov. Josh Shapiro’s first budget proposal is taking a big step toward making the commonwealth’s roads safer.

Shapiro’s spending plan proposes a new way of funding the Pennsylvania State Police by creating a new restricted bank account for the agency.

At present nearly $900 million of the state police force’s roughly $1.4 billion budget comes from the state’s General Fund, while the rest comes from the state’s Motor License Fund, funded by state’s gas tax and is primarily meant to be used for infrastructure spending.

Shapiro would end those transfers by creating a new restricted bank account for the state police. Unlike the General Fund this new police account wouldn’t be subject to annual budget negotiations between the governor and the Legislature.

A set amount of tax revenue automatically would be set aside for it each year without debate between the governor and state lawmakers.

The governor’s plan has support of Democrats in the Legislature.

But some GOP lawmakers have criticized the effort to create a State Police Fund, arguing this style of “autopilot” budgeting makes state finances less flexible and more opaque.

A so-called special fund such as the one Shapiro is proposing is far from a novel idea. Past Legislatures have created more than 150 similar accounts, which are financed through taxes, fines, or fees.

On average, according to Spotlight PA., these funds account for about three in every 10 state dollars spent annually. Last year, they amounted to more than $20 billion.

Shapiro’s plan would mean more money would be available to repair the roads, bridges and other transportation infrastructure in the state. And the new fund would ensure that the state police who patrol those roads would receive adequate money to fulfill their tasks without political wrangling delaying or reducing the money needed.

It’s sounds like a very good proposal for everyone involved.

— EKF