Monson steps aside as secretary of budget; Reber named as replacement
After more than 230 days after assisting Gov. Josh Shapiro put together a budget proposal for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Uri Monson has seen enough.
The Secretary of the Budget for the state has announced he is stepping down to assume the position as the Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Public School Employees’ Retirement System, commonly referred to as PSERS.
Zachary Reber, Deputy Secretary for Fiscal Policy and Program Coordination in the Office of the Budget, will be appointed to fill the role upon the conclusion of Monson’s service on December 12. PSERS’ Board of Trustees is expected to finalize Monson’s appointment at its December 12 meeting.
“Pennsylvania taxpayers are fortunate to have dedicated public servants like Uri and Zach carefully managing the Commonwealth’s budgetary and fiscal health. Uri has demonstrated exceptional financial leadership and integrity throughout his career, and as Secretary of the Budget, he instituted new policies that helped the Commonwealth receive its highest bond rating in more than a decade, saving taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars. He has been a critical part of our team, and I know he will guide PSERS with the long-term interests of its members at the forefront,” said Shapiro.
“Zach has been a key leader in the Budget Office for years — he understands the Commonwealth’s fiscal landscape inside and out, and I have full confidence he will excel as our next Budget Secretary.”
The PSERS Board selected Monson after a nationwide search. He will lead a staff of 350 and succeed Interim Executive Director Ben Cotton, following the retirement of former Executive Director Terrill Sanchez in June.
Monson, who was appointed in January 2023, has led the Commonwealth’s finances with a focus on long-term fiscal responsibility and strategic growth. Under Monson’s leadership, Pennsylvania released its first-ever debt management policy, providing clear guidance on debt authorizations and repayment, and completed bond refinancing that will save taxpayers $193 million over the next decade. During his tenure, the Commonwealth has received its highest credit ratings in more than a decade, with Moody’s, Fitch, and S&P all affirming Pennsylvania’s positive outlook.
Just yesterday, Monson officially opened a newly modernized Office of the Budget workspaces at Forum Place. The 2025-26 budget invested more than $15 million in the Space Optimization & Utilization Project (SOUP), a statewide effort to reduce leased space, improve workplace quality, and deliver significant long-term savings.
Reber has served the Commonwealth for more than a decade in various leadership roles. His work includes serving as Special Advisor to multiple Budget Secretaries; Executive Director of the Keystone Economic Development and Workforce Command Center; Deputy Secretary of Policy and Planning in the Governor’s Office; and multiple senior roles at the Department of Community and Economic Development. He began his Commonwealth service at the Department of Revenue in 2012.
A graduate of Alvernia University, Reber earned a bachelor’s degree with a major in political science and a minor in history, graduating summa cum laude from the Honors Program. He resides in Schuylkill County with his wife and two daughters, and he is also a fourth-generation farmer who operates a family farm with his two brothers.
Steve Ulrich is managing editor of Politics PA where this article originally appeared.
