The budgetary reserve is defended by leaders as a way to insulate the legislative branch during a potential budgetary impasse with the governor. It's nearly tripled from $95 million in the past six years.
A report suggests the Pennyslvania Legislature to have seen a significant increase in its spending and surplus in 2022. (AP Photo/Laurence Kesterson, File)
The Legislature's current pension obligation is about $50 million.
The commission, which includes lawmakers from both parties and both chambers, approved the audit report with little comment on Tuesday. It was not made public until Wednesday morning.
PENNSYLVANIA TO BEGIN FISCAL YEAR WITHOUT A BUDGET
The cost to operate the 50-member Senate was $125 million last year, $222 million for the 203-member House and about $45 million for other expenses, including data processing and the Legislative Reference Bureau.
Pennsylvania has the country's largest full-time Legislature and a large staff, including hundreds of district offices throughout the state. Lawmakers were in voting session for about 50 days during the yearlong 2021-22 audit period.
The Camp Hill accounting firm of Boyer and Ritter was paid nearly $168,000 to produce the report.