Democrats in Delaware County voice their concerns over Pennsylvania's budget standstill, intensifying efforts to secure financing for SEPTA as the Senate prepares to reconvene.

In the heart of Delaware County, Democratic legislators gathered at the Lansdowne Avenue Trolley Station, a symbol of the region's interconnectedness, to deliver a pressing message to their Republican colleagues. The focus of their appeal? The South East Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA), a lifeline that connects communities, fuels the economy, and ensures people can get where they need to go.

The transit agency is currently grappling with a $213 million funding crisis, a predicament that has led Moody's Ratings to downgrade its financial outlook for SEPTA. State Sen. Tim Kearney and State Rep. Gina Curry, among others, have emphasised the need for real, sustainable funding for schools and SEPTA, as the Pennsylvania Senate prepares to reconvene in Harrisburg to deliver a much-delayed budget on Monday.

The potential service cuts, according to Curry, would disproportionately harm disadvantaged communities, including those in Delaware County. Many students within these underfunded school districts rely on SEPTA to navigate their neighbourhoods. Delaware County school districts, such as Upper Darby and William Penn, are uniquely affected by the dual crises.

If not addressed, SEPTA's funding crisis could leave children without transportation during the winter, posing significant challenges for families and schools. The impact of these potential service cuts, Curry described, is more than an inconvenience. It's a matter of equity and accessibility.

The budget impasse is causing harm to smaller safety net programs across Pennsylvania, with the ripple effects of SEPTA's service cuts expected to be felt across every corner of the state. Kearney, however, expressed concern about a judge's order that mandates SEPTA to pay for services with money it doesn't have, deeming it illogical.

A compromise, it seems, is expected to be the solution for the funding issue. Lawmakers are divided along party lines regarding the allocation of funding for SEPTA, but the urgency of the situation cannot be ignored.

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