On Feb. 4, Governor Tom Corbett set the annual state budget process into motion by giving a speech that highlighted the fiscal challenges facing the Commonwealth and outlined his priorities for the upcoming fiscal year.

Legislators will take his suggestions into account as they craft the budget, but it is important to emphasize that the governor's proposal is only a starting point. The final product will undoubtedly change as legislators hold hearings to solicit input from the public and receive testimony from the leaders of state agencies.

Balancing the budget is almost always difficult, but this year, it will be especially so. Pennsylvania faces a nearly $1.4 billion deficit, fueled largely by rising pension costs and federal mandates associated with the implementation of the Affordable Care Act. Just to keep up with required pension contributions, the state will need to find an additional $600 million. To comply with ObamaCare regulations, legislators will need to come up with another $220 million. Together, the two account for $820 million, or about 58 percent of the projected budget shortfall.

With a deficit of this magnitude, exercising fiscal restraint will be essential. Though the current climate is challenging, it offers lawmakers a unique opportunity to refocus government on its core priorities and to enact meaningful government reforms. The governor's proposal is a good first step in that direction.

I am glad the governor has proposed no new taxes. I helped lead the way last year in significant tax reforms that empowered families and businesses to keep more of what they earned and to invest in the future. We are now starting to see the benefits of that effort. Raising taxes would only put our jobs recovery at risk and dampen economic growth.

Another element I find encouraging in the proposal is the strong commitment to education. Special education funding has remained flat for the past six years. Under the plan outlined by the governor, special education programs would receive an increase of $20 million. He also proposed boosting funding for pre-kindergarten programs by $10 million over last year.

I also appreciate the inclusion of more than $24 million in new funding for programs aiding individuals who have intellectual disabilities and autism. These dollars are critical in helping families raise children with special needs and allowing adults with special needs to lead independent lives.

We are still early in the budget cycle. Lawmakers have until June 30 to enact a final agreement. Even so, budget hearings are already underway in the House. If you would like to keep informed of the budget process, I invite you to visit a special website maintained by the House Appropriations Committee especially for that purpose: www. pabudget.com. There, you can watch committee hearings, read the governor's proposal and look at budgets from previous years.

And, as always, I am interested in hearing your input. What do you believe our spending priorities should be? You can contact me through my website at www.RepMackenzie.com or by calling 610-965-9933.