Pennsylvania lawmakers have to find a way to close a budget deficit of about a billion and a half dollars before enacting a spending plan for the new fiscal year that begins Saturday. Then, there's a structural deficit of more than three billion dollars that will have to be addressed eventually.

Unlike two years ago when a budget wasn't agreed to until nine months into the fiscal year, this year's negotiations have been quiet and so far uneventful. That could change when details come out publicly.

Part of the reason there hasn't been much controversy is both Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf and Republican leaders in the legislature have said there will be no general tax increase and there doesn't appear to be a huge difference in how much will be spent.

On Thursday's Smart Talk, WITF's Capital Bureau Chief Katie Meyer provides the latest insight on the budget and provides an explanation of how the budget got so tight.

We'll also be joined by Connell O'Brien and Wendy Loranzo of the FamilyFirstPA Coalition, an organization concerned that possible budget cuts that could have an impact on human services.