Policy Brief
Thu, September 09, 2010
Merging Municipal Functions into Counties: A Bad Idea
A recently introduced bill in Harrisburg would mandate that all municipal functions be merged into their host county. The rationale is an old one—too many municipalities are stifling economic growth ...
Fri, September 03, 2010
No Labor Day Joy in Pittsburgh
Compounding the litany of financial difficulties confronting the City of Pittsburgh the latest jobless figures (July 2010) show a recession-high unemployment rate in the City's labor force of 9.1 ...
Mon, August 30, 2010
Why So Many Non-Teaching Employees in Pittsburgh?
A pop quiz as another school year gets underway: what is the student-to-teacher
ratio in the Pittsburgh Public Schools (PPS)? According to the most recent audited data (2009) the District shows ...
Tue, August 24, 2010
Corporate Welfare Apologists Never Give Up
Back in 2001, an editorial in Pittsburgh's liberal/progressive newspaper justified the taxpayer investment in PNC Park and Heinz Field on the basis of a couple of million dollars in projected ...
Tue, August 24, 2010
Time to Fix Hole in Allegheny County's Oath of Office
The Mayor of Pittsburgh, members of Pittsburgh City Council, and all City appointees do it; so too do the members of Allegheny County's personnel board; county officials in Erie County also do it; ...
Tue, August 17, 2010
Sunset Review Still Hasn't Seen Light of Day
Back in March of this year (Policy Brief Volume 10, Number 16) we inquired as to the whereabouts of Allegheny County's mandated periodic sunset review. Under language in the Home Rule ...
Wed, August 11, 2010
Casino Anniversary: A Disappointing Year
August 9th marked the one year anniversary of the Rivers Casino opening. While the Casino and its supporters claim the last year was a success, analysis of their gross terminal revenues (slot ...
Mon, August 09, 2010
Senatorial Connector Criticism Gets Lame PAT Response
In a recently released report by Senators Coburn and McCain titled "Summertime Blues", the North Shore Connector—Pittsburgh's $529 million "big dig"—was identified as the third ...
Wed, August 04, 2010
Has SPC Derailed Flex Plan?
In Policy Brief Volume 10, Number 39 we discussed the Governor's mention of the possibility of "flexing" highway money to help the Port Authority (PAT) with its impending deficit thereby ...
Fri, July 30, 2010
PA #1 in Teacher Strikes
We have pointed on many occasions how Pennsylvania is one of a handful of states that give teachers the right to strike if collective bargaining does not produce a contract. Teacher strikes are ...
Fri, July 30, 2010
Unemployment Comp Debate Missing Key Points
The attention given to the ongoing back and forth over unemployment compensation, while making good fodder for election year pundits and newspaper headlines, is not directed at the real issue: how to ...
Fri, July 23, 2010
Flexible Healing of PAT is No Cure
"In the future our limited highway dollars should first be used to repair our existing roads and bridges, not close holes in the transit budget"—Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission (SPC) ...
Tue, July 20, 2010
Pittsburgh's Pension Solution
In last week's Policy Brief (Volume 10, Number 37) we showed that the proposal to lease Parking Authority facilities as a means to raise $200 million for Pittsburgh's pension funds would require—at a ...
Thu, July 15, 2010
Proposed Pittsburgh Parking Lease
As the Mayor takes his case for leasing the parking garages, lots, and meters to the public he has to wonder if at least one of the interested companies will see sufficient earnings potential from a ...
Wed, June 30, 2010
What Will Pittsburgh Parking Study Accomplish?
What Will Council's $250,000 Parking Study Accomplish?
City Council wants to leave no stone unturned and wants to make sure that when it decides to approve or disapprove of any agreement ...
Thu, June 24, 2010
Rendell Gets It Wrong on Education Spending
Speaking to group of Pennsylvania teachers on June 22, Governor Rendell tried to make the case for asking the Legislature to approve an additional $355 million in education spending in the 2010-2011 ...
Wed, June 23, 2010
Legal Reform Proposals Miss the Mark
While job creators, health-care providers, consumers and others impacted by Pennsylvania's dismal legal system continue the fight for any progress on meaningful lawsuit abuse reform, some state ...
Thu, June 17, 2010
Your Tax Dollars at Work
Governor Rendell proposed a $66 billion total state operating budget for 2010-11 that increases taxes. What will these new taxes go to pay? Here is the second in a series looking at Your Tax ...
Wed, June 16, 2010
Port Authority Irresponsibility: A Never Ending Story
Policy Brief
An electronic publication of
The Allegheny Institute for Public Policy
Is history repeating itself? Later this week the state will convene a meeting in the ...
Tue, June 08, 2010
Rivers Casino Credit Rating Drops to Dismal Low
Investors in Rivers Casino are pouring more money into the underperforming facility. The investors include Rivers Casino Chairman Neil Bluhm and the Detroit fire and police pension funds that ...
Fri, June 04, 2010
PA's Anti-Growth Trifecta
The decades' long anemic growth of Pennsylvania's economy has been well documented. Consistently over many years, the state has posted job gains ranking among the bottom five or ten states. That ...
Wed, June 02, 2010
PA Budget Facts 2010
Pennsylvania Budget Facts 2010
Today, the Commonwealth Foundation released two fact sheets on the Pennsylvania State Budget, and offered testimony on ways to reduce ...
Tue, June 01, 2010
Is Port Authority Headed for a Federal Bailout?
Here we go again. Port Authority (PAT) is facing yet another financial crisis. This time they can blame it on the failure of the Feds to approve tolling I-80. So now they are looking at a $50 million ...
Thu, May 27, 2010
Rivers Casino Revenue Up, But Below Expectations
There is some moderately good news from the Rivers Casino—at least from the casino's perspective. Gross terminal revenue has picked up 20 percent thus far in 2010 compared to the opening five months ...
Tue, May 25, 2010
Another Weak Start for Pirate Attendance
Policy Brief
An electronic publication of
The Allegheny Institute for Public Policy
Welcome to another ...
Tue, May 25, 2010
Sorry Governor, That's Not Correct
As Gov. Ed Rendell and his supporters press for higher taxes in the 2010-11 state budget, they continue to make statements that range from misleading to factually incorrect, significantly clouding ...
Fri, May 21, 2010
Teacher Union President Needs Some Education
In an opinion piece earlier this week the president of the Pennsylvania State Education Association set out the teachers' association position on the impending requirement for massive contribution ...
Wed, May 19, 2010
Pittsburgh Loses Again
Pittsburgh has lost again, although this time it was not a sports contest. The City lost an arbitration award to the labor union representing Public Works employees. The grievance was over the ...
Thu, May 13, 2010
Pittsburgh's 0.3% Solution is a Very Bad Idea
According to Mayor Ravenstahl there is unanimous agreement in his task force of government, university and business leaders that Pittsburgh needs a new source of revenue to bail out its ailing ...
Thu, May 06, 2010
'Most Livable' a Dubious, Fleeting Honor
Quick—who did Forbes magazine recently name as its "Most Livable City"? Unless one has been under a rock in southwestern Pennsylvania they would know that Pittsburgh was crowned with the ...
Tue, May 04, 2010
Candidates Spar Over Allegheny County Jobs
Two candidates vying for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination have questioned the accuracy of County Executive Onorato's campaign ads regarding claims of job creation and are suggesting they are ...
Tue, April 27, 2010
Pittsburgh's Financial Watchdogs Lose Their Bark
Pittsburgh City Council recently enacted a prevailing wage bill and is now considering a living wage bill. Both measures will almost certainly increase City spending either directly, by raising the ...
Wed, April 21, 2010
The Bell Tolls for PAT: Do They Hear It?
Without tolls on Interstate 80 (I-80) to generate funds for roads, bridges, and mass transit, the CEO of Port Authority (PAT) says that what was a $25 million deficit for the coming fiscal year will ...
Wed, April 14, 2010
Great Schools Ranking of Schools Flawed
GreatSchools, a San Francisco non-profit organization, recently ranked cities according to school performance and city affordability. According to GreatSchools the rankings were done to assist ...
Thu, April 08, 2010
Strike Three: Tolling I-80 is Out!
For the third time Pennsylvania's application to toll Interstate 80 (I-80) has been denied by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood stated that the FHWA ...
Mon, April 05, 2010
Are Public Pensions Becoming a Financial Suicide Pact?
Here are two hard and uncomfortable truths about public pensions that will undoubtedly play an enormous role on policy and legislative decisions by the state and local governments in coming years:
Wed, March 31, 2010
Mt. Lebanon Condo Plan Falls Through - Again
Mt. Lebanon's controversial condominium project known as Washington Park, to be built on property formerly owned by the municipality's Parking Authority, has officially fallen through. Officially, ...
Fri, March 26, 2010
Has the Sun Set on Sunset Review in Allegheny County?
Since Allegheny County's Home Rule Charter and administrative code clearly spell out that a sunset review of all County operating departments is to be conducted every four years, why has it been ...
Wed, March 24, 2010
Measuring Pittsburgh's Financial Performance
Compared to our Benchmark City—an amalgamation of financial data from four U.S. regional hub cities that differ in geographic location, population, square mileage, and political ...
Wed, March 17, 2010
Recession Continues to Grip Region
According to some analysts the recession is over. The Bureau of Economic Analysis has reported that real gross domestic product increased in both the third and fourth quarters of 2009, suggesting the ...
Fri, March 12, 2010
CF: The Case for a Citizen Legislature
CF Releases The Case for a Citizen Legislature
The Commonwealth Foundation today released The Case for a Citizen Legislature, a policy brief by Elizabeth Bryan and ...
Wed, March 10, 2010
Gaming Revenue Impact on Government Spending
Money received by Allegheny County from gaming taxes almost certainly delayed hard budgetary choices. Would the County have raised taxes or cut spending in the absence of gaming dollars promised or ...
Wed, March 03, 2010
Hard to Feel Sympathy for PAT
Another year, another budget crisis. The Port Authority's (PAT) budget projection for 2010-2011 calls for yet another funding shortfall; this time about $25 million. PAT's planning and development ...
Wed, February 24, 2010
Commonwealth Foundation Budget Facts
Pennsylvania Budget Facts 2010
Today, the Commonwealth Foundation released two new analyses of the Pennsylvania State Budget.
Pennsylvania State Budget Overview
Wed, February 24, 2010
Pittsburgh's Apologists Return with Bad Policy Suggestions
The Allegheny Institute for Public Policy
In 2003 a duo of the City's elite chaired a task force known as the Hillman/Roderick Committee to study Pittsburgh's financial problems and to ...
Mon, February 22, 2010
Can Johnstown Regain its Financial Footing?
An electronic publication of
The Allegheny Institute for Public Policy
In Act 47 status since 1992 and on its fourth amended recovery plan, the City of Johnstown just started ...
Tue, February 16, 2010
Mt. Lebanon Schools Become a Taxpayer Mightmare
Mt. Lebanon taxpayers, like many taxpayers in Pennsylvania, are facing a shocking increase in school taxes over the next five years. Between now and 2015, property tax collections in Mt. Lebanon are ...
Wed, February 10, 2010
Allegheny Institute: Harrisburg Contemplates Bankruptcy
Could a $288 million debt, most of which is related to a publicly owned trash
incinerator, turn Harrisburg's finances to ashes?
That's a question officials in ...
Thu, February 04, 2010
Penn Hills Teacher Strike Mean-Spirited and Spiteful
Penn Hills School District is cancelling classes in response to a teacher strike. This situation is all too commonplace in the state that annually leads the nation in teacher strikes.
Mon, January 25, 2010
Allegheny Institute: Return of the Living Wage
Pittsburgh City Council's attempt to install a prevailing wage for employees at City-subsidized development projects has emboldened one Council member to take it a step further and revisit the idea ...
Thu, January 21, 2010
More Reassessment Bluster from the Chief Executive
"Allegheny County will comply with the court-ordered 2012 reassessment…"—press release from the Chief Executive, December 4, 2009
"I will do everything in my power to make ...
Wed, January 20, 2010
Mandated Wage Mania in Allegheny County
Hard on the heels of the efforts of Pittsburgh to put together a "prevailing wage" law for workers on development projects that receive government financial assistance, now appears ...
Thu, January 14, 2010
Pittsburgh Tax Revenue: A Better Approach
When Pittsburgh's plans to use projected tuition tax revenues were denied by the Oversight Board, the resulting loss of $15 million in projected revenue for 2010 necessitated some reworking of the ...
Mon, January 11, 2010
Prevailing Gamesmanship
In a bold New Year's Eve gambit, Mayor Ravenstahl's veto was able to stymie City Council efforts to institute a "prevailing wage" law in Pittsburgh through a bill it passed unanimously on ...
Sat, January 09, 2010
Time for More Transparency in Government
There is a national movement to make government spending and finances accessible to taxpayers. Pennsylvania lags behind, but state lawmakers are moving toward greater transparency.
Tue, January 05, 2010
Commonwealth Foundation Guide to Electric Choice
Citizen's Guide to Electric Choice & Competition
Background
Why are we now getting electricity choice and competition?
Wed, December 23, 2009
Humbug: Coal to the Coalition for More Taxes
Monday, December 21st marked the demise of the proposed tuition tax, also known as the "Post Secondary Education Privilege Tax" and the "Fair Share Tax", as the City and the ...
Mon, December 14, 2009
Pittsburgh's Worsening Policy Spiral
Policy Brief
An electronic publication of
The Allegheny Institute for Public Policy
Pittsburgh's City Council is holding debates over proposed prevailing wage legislation. The ...
Thu, December 10, 2009
Allegheny Institute: Legislature Moves to Squash Tuition Tax
Policy Brief
An electronic publication of
The Allegheny Institute for Public Policy
________________________________________
December 10, 2009 ...
Wed, December 09, 2009
Labor Market Weakness Persists in Pittsburgh Region
Despite the wishful thinking of some civic leaders and pundits, recessionary labor market conditions persist in the Pittsburgh area. The latest household survey data from the Bureau of Labor ...
Fri, December 04, 2009
Allegheny Institute:
Allegheny County Taxes: The Rest of the Story
At last Tuesday night's County Council meeting the Council President stated that "the story here is that for the ninth year in a row now, this council has not raised property taxes even as all ...
Thu, December 03, 2009
Spending Transparency & Accountability
There is a national movement to make government spending and finances accessible to taxpayers. Pennsylvania lags behind, but state lawmakers are moving toward greater transparency.
Wed, December 02, 2009
Missing the Housing Boom
Conventional thinking among local leaders is that because the area didn't "boom" during the last few years, it didn't suffer the economic "bust" to the degree some other areas ...
Tue, November 24, 2009
Every Generation Needs a Revolution
By Matt Brouillette, Tim Potts, Barry Kauffman & Olivia Thorne
Pennsylvania's government is a prime exhibition of Lord Acton's well-known admonition that ...
Tue, November 24, 2009
Summing Up the G-20 Summit
Shortly after the conclusion of the September G-20 Summit, the head of VisitPittsburgh claimed the event's economic benefits to the City and region reached $35 million. As we pointed out in an ...
Fri, November 20, 2009
Assessment Fiasco Gets New Life
Policy Brief
An electronic publication of
The Allegheny Institute for Public Policy
At the October 19th hearing to determine how and when to ...
Tue, November 17, 2009
College Students: Welcome to Taxburgh
The Mayor of Pittsburgh is trying to levy a new tax on college and university tuition to shore up the City's calamitous legacy costs. A City Council member has countered with another proposal. That ...
Tue, November 10, 2009
Allegheny Institute:
County Council Oversteps Yet Again
Against the opinion of their own legal counsel and in the face of a threatened veto, County Council-on a 14 to 0 vote-passed legislation to impose service fees on certain tax-exempt, non-profit ...
Wed, November 04, 2009
Pittsburgh Enrollment Decline Forecast to Continue
An independent consultant hired by Pittsburgh Public Schools to study facility usage recommended closing 16 buildings and reconfiguring another 19 of the District's 70 facilities. The recommendations ...
Thu, October 29, 2009
Allegheny Institute
Clarifying Pittsburg's Employment Picture
Pittsburgh's mayoral race has produced some heated rhetoric about the jobs situation in the City. One candidate has criticized the Mayor's characterization of the unemployment situation as being ...
Tue, October 27, 2009
Eds and Meds Jobs: Another Look
September jobs numbers for the Pittsburgh region monotonously repeat the story of the past several months—significant year over year employment declines. Total private jobs fell 32,000 from September ...
Fri, October 23, 2009
Stronger Graduation Requirements Pay Off in the Long Run
By Joe Torsella
For almost two years, Pennsylvania has been engaged in spirited debate about the academic expectations we hold for our young people. In public hearings, the halls of the ...
Wed, October 21, 2009
Allegheny Institute: County Officials's Assessment Confusion
While running for the County Executive position the first time, the current holder of that office was unrelenting in his harsh criticism of the 2002 assessment values, arguing they were hopelessly ...
Fri, October 16, 2009
Allegheny Institute: A Look at the 2010 Allegheny County Budget
While state budget deliberations have come to a close, discussions about Allegheny County's budget are just beginning. The County's general fund-where most of the day to day operations are accounted ...
Wed, October 14, 2009
Lingering Problems at Pittsburgh International
The Allegheny County Airport Authority has released its budget for 2010. And while it contains a very slight increase in expenditures over this year's budget it has been necessary to boost airline ...
Wed, October 07, 2009
Allegheny Institute: Home Rule Law Needs to be Revamped
Almost a year ago to the day (Policy Brief Volume 8, Number 65) we asked this question: "who has the power to set tax rates in a home rule community?" The issue at hand was whether a ...
Tue, October 06, 2009
G-20: Did Pittsburgh Come Out Ahead?
Pittsburgh's cheerleaders are lauding the benefits of hosting the G-20 summit with a claim the City and region reaped $35 million in direct economic benefits as well as what amounts to $100 million ...
Wed, September 30, 2009
Pittsburgh's Star Crossed Casino Not So Majestic
It seems that if something can go wrong for Pittsburgh's Rivers Casino, it will. From problems with ownership, location, long construction delays, a grand opening that fizzled, to six weeks of ...
Mon, September 28, 2009
Allegheny Institute: A Tax Ruling the Supreme Court Ought to Consider
It has been two and a half years since Judge Wettick ruled Allegheny County's base year assessment system unconstitutional and ordered an updated assessment to be carried out. It has been six months ...
Wed, September 23, 2009
Allegheny Institute: Wishful Jobs Thinking
Folks in the Pittsburgh area were given a double dollop of wishful thinking about jobs over the past few days. One arrived in the form of a forecast, the other from a protest march led by the Bailout ...
Tue, September 22, 2009
Allegheny Institute: Another Example of Union Tone Deafness
Teachers in the South Butler School District are on strike for the second time in the last twelve months. They can stay on the picket lines until early October under Act 88. They face no ...
Fri, September 18, 2009
Is Pittsburgh's Casino Being a Good Citizen?
When Pittsburgh's casino license was transferred from Don Barden to Neil Bluhm's group, the latter agreed, as a condition of the transfer, to honor all obligations associated with that license—which ...
Wed, September 16, 2009
Allegheny Institute: Assessment Saga Continues
The never ending saga of Allegheny County's assessment system continues as the County Court of Common Pleas, the County government, and the legal counsel for the opponents of the base year huddle to ...
Fri, September 11, 2009
Allegheny Institute: What Happens in Chapter 9 Bankruptcy?
In a previous Policy Brief (Volume 9, Number 51) we raised the question of whether Pittsburgh's legacy costs could force the City to seek relief under Chapter 9 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. Under ...
Thu, September 03, 2009
Allegheny Institute
Casino Revenues Face Uphill Struggle
Earnings for the third week of operations at the Rivers Casino were lower than the already disappointing levels of the first two weeks. This pattern is rapidly becoming a problem for Pittsburgh's ...
Wed, August 26, 2009
Allegheny Institute:
Pittsburgh Casino Not Off to a Good Start
The Rivers Casino on Pittsburgh's North Shore just finished its first two full weeks of operations (August 10th through August 23rd). Wagering and revenue data are available to the public through the ...
Wed, August 19, 2009
Allegheny Institute:
Pittsburgh Encounters Pension Reform and Doesn't Like It
If the health of Pittsburgh's three pension plans doesn't soon improve and if pending municipal pension reform legislation becomes state law, the City will see its oversight and administration of ...
Fri, August 14, 2009
Allegheny Institute:
What Would PA Gain by Consolidating School Districts?
Could Pennsylvania see another reduction in the number of school districts in coming years? If it does, would the reduction be of the magnitude of the late 1950s and early 1960s when the district ...
Thu, August 13, 2009
Allegheny Institute:
Assessing Pittsburgh's Casinos
Pittsburgh's casino is now open. Its first day of operations saw $14 million wagered and gross profits for the casino $1.29 million. In the midst of all of the excitement surrounding the slots ...
Tue, August 11, 2009
Policy Points
Quick Facts from the Commonwealth Foundation
August 11, 2009
Today, the Commonwealth Foundation released two new Policy Points highlighting Pennsylvania's state and local tax burden and state and local government debt, in light of ...
Fri, August 07, 2009
Allegheny Institute:
Is the eighth grade PSSA reading exam too easy?
A close perusal of 2007-2008 PSSA (Pennsylvania System of Schools Assessment) reading test scores uncovers a serious question. What is going on with the 8th grade test that such high percentages of ...
Tue, August 04, 2009
Quick Facts from the Commonwealth Foundation:
Electricity Restructuring and Rate Caps
With electricity rate caps expiring, state lawmakers are concerned that Pennsylvanians will see steep increases in their utility bills. What will happen as the electricity deregulation, which is ...
Mon, August 03, 2009
Allegheny Institute:
Pittsburgh Schools Still Not Making the Grade
While waxing ecstatic last month about the Pittsburgh school district's improving achievement scores in the 2008-2009 school year, the Superintendent studiously avoided a thorough discussion of some ...
Thu, July 30, 2009
Allegheny Institute:
Achievement Test Results and Education Spending
A lesson well learned by all departments reporting to the Governor is how to milk anything resembling good news and obfuscate or remain silent about less pleasant news. Recent case in point: The ...
Mon, July 27, 2009
Allegheny Institute Policy Brief:
PAT Finances Suffer Despite New Contract
State and local revenue assistance is flat, the capital budget might be raided to pay day-to-day costs, money has to be plowed into the pension fund, and the cost to patrons has to rise. These ...
Fri, July 24, 2009
Allegheny Institute:
Bluhm on the Hook: But Taxpayers May Get the Bill
With less than a month until the Rivers Casino opens in Pittsburgh the slots parlor is facing a $7.5 million payment due this October for its share of the hockey arena debt service. Predictably, ...
Tue, July 14, 2009
Allegheny Institute:
Pittsburgh Job Gains in Eds and Meds Are Not Unique
As the deep recession continues to hold the economy in a tight grip, much is being made of how Pittsburgh's job market is being buoyed by the growth in the Education and Health sector. Comparative ...
Mon, July 06, 2009
Budget Fact s 2009
Today, the Commonwealth Foundation released three new Pennsylvania Budget Facts highlighting Gov. Rendell's proposals to fill a $3.2 billion revenue shortfall in the state's General Fund budget. The ...
Mon, July 06, 2009
Allegheny Institute:
Population Slide Continues in City and Region
The recently released 2008 population figures show the City of Pittsburgh posting a yearly loss of nearly 1,700 residents, continuing a trend that has been ongoing for several decades. City officials ...
Wed, July 01, 2009
Allegheny Institute:
The Best Laid Plans Not Good Enough
When the Secretary of Pennsylvania's Department of Community and Economic Development rejected Pittsburgh's petition to have its Act 47 designation lifted last July, he noted that the City needed ...
Fri, June 26, 2009
Allegheny Institute:
Silly Season for Meaningless Rankings
News magazines apparently do not have enough real news to report so they have taken to creating news by preparing a seemingly endless flood of city rankings. Evidently the competition to produce such ...
Thu, June 25, 2009
City Wants Commuters, Visitors and Nonprofits to Pay More
To say the least, there has been little or no support in the state Legislature for the Mayor's call to boost Pittsburgh's revenue by increasing taxes paid by people working in the City (through a ...
Fri, June 19, 2009
Allegheny Institute:
Recession Deepened in April
Recession Deepened in April
April employment numbers show a significant deepening of the recession in the Pittsburgh metro area. April data continued a disturbing trend of losses ...
Fri, June 12, 2009
Allegheny Institute
Privatizing Airport Parking: Will it Fly?
Policy Brief
An electronic publication of
The Allegheny Institute for Public Policy
June 11, 2009 ...
Fri, June 12, 2009
Budget Facts 2009
From the Commonwealth Foundation
Budget Facts 2009
From the Commonwealth Foundation
June 2009
Spending Increases by Department
Pennsylvania faces a $3 ...
Tue, June 09, 2009
Budget Facts 2009
From the Commonwealth Foundation
June 2009
Pennsylvania State Budget Overview
Pennsylvania faces a $3 billion tax revenue shortfall in the state's General Fund Budget. Competing proposals from Gov. Ed ...
Thu, June 04, 2009
Spot Appeals: Another Problem Created by Base Year Assessments
When counties adopt a base-year assessment system, they can lock in assessed values for very long periods. As a result, tax revenues cannot grow unless; (1) there is growth in total property value ...
Fri, May 29, 2009
Policy Brief
Turnpike Renewing Plans to Toll I-80
Policy Brief
An electronic publication of
The Allegheny Institute for Public Policy
________________________________________
May 29, 2009 ...
Thu, May 28, 2009
Allegheny Institute:
Act # 47 Errs Badly with Tax Recommendations
Pittsburgh's Recovery Team unveiled its amended Recovery Plan last week, the latest step in the City's tenure under Act 47 distressed status that began in December of 2003. The amended Plan came ...
Thu, May 28, 2009
Will More Government Spending Stimulate the Economy?
Over the past eight years, federal, state, and local government spending increased from 30% of U.S. GDP to 35%. Economists warn that when government spending exceeds 25% of GDP, it hampers economic ...
Thu, May 21, 2009
Allegheny Institute:
The Stimulus in Allegheny County: The Seen and the Unseen
The American Reinvestment and Recovery Act—better known as the stimulus package—will inject $377 million into Allegheny County for transportation, community improvements, and education among other ...
Tue, May 19, 2009
Allegheny Institute:
Reassessments: Rhetoric and Reality
Ever since the County scuttled its long standing commitment to carry out a property reassessment in 2005 and adopted a base year plan, the Chief Executive has defended the actions with three basic ...
Wed, May 13, 2009
Businesses Balk at Pittsburgh Promise Program
According to a Tribune Review report, the Pittsburgh business community has not warmed to the Pittsburgh Promise program. This is the program that plans to offer college scholarships to virtually all ...
Tue, May 12, 2009
Where Will the Chief Executive Take Assessments Next?
Having recently lost a Pennsylvania Supreme Court case regarding his base-year assessment scheme, the County Executive is now threatening to take the case to Federal court. Considering the lawsuit ...
Thu, May 07, 2009
Allegheny Institute:
PA Budget Debate: Where Does Government's Obligation Lie?
Thomas Jefferson writing in the Declaration of Independence lays out the self-evident truths that form the basis of the nation's founding. To wit; all men are created equal and endowed by their ...
Mon, May 04, 2009
PA Deficit Watch
Pennsylvania Deficit Watch: May 2009
Update on Pennsylvania's Revenue Shortfall from the Commonwealth Foundation
05.04.09
The Pennsylvania Department of Revenue released the ...
Thu, April 30, 2009
Supreme Court Tosses Out Allegheny County's Base Year Assessments
"…We hold that the base year method property valuation, as applied in Allegheny County, violates the Uniformity Clause. We therefore agree that a countywide reassessment is required and remand ...
Wed, April 29, 2009
Allegheny Institute:
Push for City-County Merger Continues Despite Flaws, Unpopularity
Not since the Regional Renaissance Initiative debacle has so much study group brainpower, City and County elected official political muscle, and high powered civic leadership influence been employed ...
Thu, April 23, 2009
Can PA Cut Spending and Still Provide Essential Programs & Services?
Those who feed at the trough of taxpayer funding typically argue that the state budget can't possibly be reduced—or even see its growth limited to inflation and population growth—without jeopardizing ...
Wed, April 22, 2009
Allegheny Institute:
Social Assistance Jobs to the Rescue?
Pittsburgh area jobs continue to fall as the recession tightens its grip on the region. Bureau of Labor Statistics data for March show private payroll jobs dropping by 19,200 from the year earlier ...
Mon, April 20, 2009
Common Sense for Mayoral Candidates: Economic Development
Policy Brief
An electronic publication of
The Allegheny Institute for Public Policy
April 17,2009 ...
Tue, April 14, 2009
Common Sense for Mayoral Candidates: Legacy Costs
Legacy costs—pensions, retiree health care, general obligation debt, and long-term workers' compensation liabilities—hang like a millstone around the City's neck. Consider these numbers from the ...
Thu, April 09, 2009
IS PA a Friendly Place for Job Creators?
Gov. Rendell frequently claims that his policies—namely increased government spending on "economic development", and the higher taxes and debt that accompany that—make Pennsylvania more ...
Wed, April 08, 2009
Common Sense for Mayoral Candidates: Education Policy
A good public school system can be, and often is, an important factor in the overall economic success of a city. At the same time, one thing is certain; bad school systems chase people with school ...
Tue, April 07, 2009
Government Wage Mandate Squeezes Low Income Homebuyers
In an attempt to revitalize some of Pittsburgh's declining neighborhoods, the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA), in conjunction with neighborhood community organizations are embarking on a project ...
Mon, April 06, 2009
Common Sense for Mayoral Candidates: Taxes and Spending
Prior to 2004, the City's tax and spending plans were almost entirely under the direction of successive City Councils and Mayoral administrations. The City, like all home rule municipalities, had to ...
Fri, April 03, 2009
PA Deficit Watch
Pennsylvania Deficit Watch: April 2009
Update on Pennsylvania's Revenue Shortfall from the Commonwealth Foundation
04.03.09
The Pennsylvania Department of Revenue released the ...
Wed, April 01, 2009
Recession Comes to Pittsbsurgh
After a valiant struggle through most of 2008 to elude the clutches of the recession that has hammered the nation's economy, the Pittsburgh region now appears to have fallen victim to full fledged ...
Mon, March 30, 2009
Common Sense for Mayoral Candidates
This year, Pittsburgh voters will cast ballots for the office of Mayor. The four year term will last until the beginning of 2014.
What will the City look like then? It is very ...
Thu, March 26, 2009
Commonwealth Foundation: Should State Government Borrow More Money?
While Gov. Rendell is fond of claiming Pennsylvania has a low state debt burden relative to other states, this ranking excludes a vast majority of taxpayer-owed debt. In fact, state debt is ...
Wed, March 25, 2009
Stimulus Spending on Schools in Inept Public Policy
States and school districts across the country are salivating at the prospect of receiving Federal money from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, more commonly known as the stimulus bill. ...
Thu, March 19, 2009
Differences in Municipal Taxes and Spending
As discussions of a City-County merger continue and issues surrounding local economic competitiveness are always a concern, it is worthwhile to examine the taxing and spending levels of the region's ...
Wed, March 11, 2009
Are Pennsylvanians Under Taxed?
Pennsylvania's tax burden is high, and growing, relative to the rest of the nation.
• Pennsylvania residents pay, on average, $13,000 per person each year in ...
Tue, March 10, 2009
Allegheny Institute
A City Ranking That Won't Get Much Attention
In 2007 Pittsburgh was rated as "America's Most Livable City" (Places Rated Almanac), and this past January it was crowned as the 6th best city in "Top Ten Places Where They are ...
Thu, March 05, 2009
Allegheny Institute:
Casino Led Renaissance?
Speaking at the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership's annual meeting, Mayor Ravenstahl told his audience that 2008 building permits for large-scale projects ($10 million or greater) showed that ...
Thu, February 26, 2009
Regulators Dredging up Trouble for Western PA
Pennsylvania's Fish and Boat Commission is planning to expand the threatened and endangered species list to include five new freshwater mussels. By so doing they will effectively halt sand and ...
Mon, February 16, 2009
Allegheny Institute:
Fiscal Irresponsibility Reigns in Pittsburgh as Well as in Washington
Despite the stumbling economy and rising concerns over government budget shortfalls, political leaders are still planning to throw substantial sums of taxpayer money at projects that should be built ...
Thu, February 12, 2009
Allegheny Institute:
PA's largest municipal pension plans in serious trouble
New data from the state's Public Employee Retirement Commission (PERC) provides the 2007 actuarial valuations and other related statistics (membership, number of plans, etc.) on Pennsylvania's local ...
Fri, February 06, 2009
Allegheny Institute:
Proposal to Consolodate School Districts is a Distraction
The Governor's recent budget message had a proposal that is cause for concern. He wants to explore the possibility of consolidating the state's 500 school districts to something he thinks is more ...
Tue, February 03, 2009
Merger Advocates Need Better Arguments
Proponents of merging the governments of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County claim the county's numerous municipalities hinder economic growth. Recently a local advocate said, "We know businesses ...
Tue, February 03, 2009
PA Deficit Watch
Updates on PA's revenue shortfall
The Pennsylvania Department of Revenue released the January revenue collections showing state General Fund revenues are $1.08 billion short for the fiscal year to date.
Fri, January 30, 2009
Recession Hits Region's Employment
While jobs news from across the country has been horrible for several months, until very recently the Pittsburgh region was able to resist the weakness, showing small year over year gains. Now it ...
Wed, January 28, 2009
Port Authority's Convenient Memory Loss
In an effort to explain the recent revelation that the North Shore Connector would need another $117.8 million to complete—bringing the total cost to $553 million—a Port Authority (PAT) spokesperson ...
Thu, January 22, 2009
Proposal to Lease Parking to Fund Pensions Raises Opportunities, Questions
Seeking a major infusion of cash for the City's three pension plans, the Mayor of Pittsburgh has proposed leasing parking facilities owned by the City's Parking Authority. The Mayor is to be ...
Tue, January 20, 2009
$533 Million and Counting for PAT's Big Dig
We knew it was coming. The folks at the Port Authority (PAT) have now admitted what everyone has known for some time: $435 million will not be enough to complete Allegheny County's biggest boondoggle ...
Wed, January 14, 2009
Allegheny Institute:
Why the Surge in Pittsburg Region's Labor Force?
The Pittsburgh MSA (metro area) labor force showed surprisingly strong gains in 2008 following a four year period (2003 to 2007) in which the region's labor force actually fell by over 15,000, ...
Tue, January 06, 2009
Allegheny Institute:
The Pathetic State of the Pittsburgh Public School District
Problems for the Pittsburgh Public School District continue to mount. For the current school year enrollment is 26,649, declining more than 1,600 students from the previous year. Moreover, the ...
Mon, December 22, 2008
Science Test Scores Paint a Disturbing Picture of Education
It is a constant refrain: Our children must do better in science and math if the nation hopes to compete effectively in the 21st century. Sadly, if recently released (2008) science test scores of ...
Fri, December 19, 2008
Allegheny County Headed to Court over Plan to Spend Drink Taxes
So now it begins. Yet another lawsuit has been filed against Allegheny County for violating or getting ready to violate state law. As we wrote in an earlier Policy Brief (Volume 8, Number 55), the ...
Thu, December 11, 2008
Allegheny Institute:
PAT Bus Service Still Has the Highest Employee Costs in the Nation
As a backdrop to Port Authority (PAT) labor negotiations it is useful to remember how costly bus service is in Allegheny County. In 2007, the latest year of available Federal Transit Administration ...
Thu, December 04, 2008
Allegheny Institute:
Little Cheer for Taxpayers in Transit Contract
If the Port Authority (PAT) and Local 85 of the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) agree to sign off on a tentative agreement that will set contract terms through 2012, the two parties will be walking ...
Wed, December 03, 2008
Allegheny Institute:
Time to Outlaw Transit Strikes in PA
While the terms of a new contract agreement between the Port Authority and the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 85 have yet to be approved by either the Board or the drivers, many passengers, ...
Thu, November 20, 2008
Allegheny Institute:
Tallying Recent Teacher Strikes Across the Nation
Newsflash: Pennsylvania maintains its long held number one ranking as the state with the most teacher strikes. During the period beginning with school year 2000-2001 and running through school year ...
Wed, November 19, 2008
Affordable Education Remains PASSHE's Top Priority
SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY CENTER POLICY BRIEF
www.susvalleypolicy.org
AFFORDABLE EDUCATION REMAINS PASSHE'S TOP PRIORITY
By John C. ...
Fri, November 14, 2008
Pittsburgh's Budget: Legacy Costs Have Large and Lasting Impact
For the 2009 budget and the years beyond, legacy costs—pensions, retiree health care, workers' compensation, and debt—will dominate the discussion about taxes, spending, the level of municipal ...
Wed, November 12, 2008
Harrisburg's Most Powerful Special Interest
New policy brief addresses the impact of unions on public education
NEWS RELEASE from the Commonwealth Foundation
11.12.08
Harrisburg's Most Powerful Special Interest
New policy brief addresses the impact of unions on public education
Tue, November 11, 2008
Policy Brief:
Adding Up the Costs of Pittsburgh School District's Failures
Pittsburgh Public Schools face serious problems—high per pupil spending (almost $20,000) and a rapidly declining enrollment (18 percent in the last four years) —that are seemingly intractable. Not ...
Thu, November 06, 2008
Promises, Promises
Here's a stunner. Based on the 2008 general fund budget of $526.6 million and a September enrollment of 26,649, the Pittsburgh Public Schools are spending at a rate of $19,796 per student. This in a ...
Mon, October 27, 2008
Water and Sewer Ballot Question
POLICY POINTS from the Commonwealth Foundation
10.27.08
Water and Sewer Ballot Question
When Pennsylvania voters head to the polls on November 4, 2008, they will also ...
Mon, October 27, 2008
Socking it to the Airlines at Pittsburgh International
Policy Brief
An electronic publication of
The Allegheny Institute for Public Policy
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October 27, 2008 ...
Wed, October 22, 2008
Analyzing the Talk About a Transit Shutdown
For months we have been watching a marathon bargaining impasse between the County Executive and the Port Authority Board on one side and the Amalgamated Transit workers on the other. The impasse is ...
Thu, October 16, 2008
Allegheny Institute:
The Great Transit Tax Grab of 2008
In a stunning stretch of logic and reason, the County Executive—the same County Executive who has gone to great lengths to convince the public that new taxes on drinks and car rentals were enacted to ...
Wed, October 08, 2008
Ending the Tax Referendum Legal Dispute
Who has the power to set tax rates in a home rule community? A definitive answer to that question will go a long way in determining who retains ultimate sovereignty in communities that have adopted ...
Tue, October 07, 2008
More Self-Congratulatory Blather About PA Job Picture
The Governor remains optimistic about Pennsylvania's job situation. He compares employment changes in the Commonwealth to the nation as a whole and notes in the August Employment Report that ...
Mon, September 29, 2008
Uncovering the True Cost of Government Retiree Benefits
State and local governments across the nation are coming face to face with the true cost of post-retirement benefits thanks to an accounting rule change mandated by the Governmental Accounting ...
Fri, September 19, 2008
Allegheny Institute
Failed Attempt to Toll I-80 Costly to Taxpayers
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) rejected the plan to toll Interstate 80. Tolling I-80 was the linchpin of Pennsylvania's transportation funding under Act 44 and was to provide funds for ...
Mon, September 15, 2008
Allegheny Institute:
A Stacked Deck Favors the Transit Union
When one party to a negotiation, because of law and prior experience, holds all the metaphorical high cards, it is child's play to predict who will come out on top in the bargaining process. Such is ...
Fri, September 12, 2008
Allegheny Institute:
Drink Tax Referenda Questions: Ballot Incompatible
Presently weaving their way through the courts, the dueling referenda questions on the County's drink tax could both end up on the November ballot. But as our analysis shows that should not be ...
