MARCH 15, 2012 | Policy Points by COMMONWEALTH FOUNDATION

Pennsylvania State and School Pension Costs

Pennsylvania taxpayers fund two statewide pension plans for government employees—the State Employees' Retirement System (SERS) for state employees and the Public School Employees' Retirement System (PSERS) for school employees. PSERS and SERS project total taxpayer contributions for these two plans will increase from $1.7 billion in 2011-12 to more than $6.1 billion in 2016-17—a 257% increase.

FEBRUARY 7, 2012 | Policy Points by COMMONWEALTH FOUNDATION

Pennsylvania State Budget Background & 2012 Preview

The FY 2011-12 total operating budget of $63.4 billion, which included $27.1 billion in General Fund spending, represented the first year-to-year reduction in state spending in at least 40 years. However, as the economy continues to struggle out of a recession and with increasing costs in public welfare, corrections, pensions, and debt, the FY 2012-13 budget will require even more difficult decisions by the General Assembly and Governor Corbett to put Pennsylvania on a path to prosperity.

FEBRUARY 6, 2012 | Policy Points by COMMONWEALTH FOUNDATION

Pennsylvania State Budget Toolkit

2012 Budget Resources

The FY 2011-12 total operating budget of $63.4 billion, which included $27.1 billion in General Fund spending, represented the first year-to-year reduction in state spending in at least 40 years. However, as the economy continues to struggle out of a recession and with increasing costs in public welfare, corrections, pensions, and debt, the FY 2012-13 budget will require even more difficult decisions by the General Assembly and Governor Corbett to put Pennsylvania on a path to prosperity.

JUNE 21, 2011 | Policy Points by COMMONWEALTH FOUNDATION

Pennsylvania State Government Union Contracts

On June 30, 15 of the state's 19 government union contracts expire, with two more expiring in August.  These 19 public sector unions represent 62,271 state employees, whose compensation from taxpayers exceeds $4.6 billion.

JUNE 15, 2011 | Commentary by RICHARD DREYFUSS

Not Paying Pension Bills Hurts our Grandkids

Politicians last year passed their version of pension reform by deferring existing unfunded liabilities, making them even more unaffordable. The situation was so severe that they felt compelled to include a legislative provision that effectively capped contributions for several years despite repeated and significant concerns raised by independent actuaries that such a move would only further shortchange already underfunded plans.

JUNE 6, 2011 | Policy Points by COMMONWEALTH FOUNDATION

Pennsylvania State Pension Liabilities

PSERS and SERS project total taxpayer contributions will increase from $1.1 billion this year to more than $5.5 billion in 2016—a 421% increase in five years.

JUNE 2, 2011 | Policy Brief by NICHOLAS FETT

Pennsylvania's State Union Contracts

On June 30, 2011, 15 of the state's 19 government union contracts expire, with two more expiring in August. These 19 public sector unions represent 62,271 state employees, whose compensation from taxpayers exceeds $4.6 billion.  Here are some of the main provisions concerning wages, benefits, and key provisions in the contracts include.

MAY 11, 2011 | Commentary by NATHAN BENEFIELD

A Penny Saved or a Penny Burned?

For any family, saving a few dollars for the future and paying off credit card bills would be the fiscally prudent path.  Likewise, state lawmakers should resist the temptation to spend every penny they have, and consider retaining any surplus to pay off debt or put toward pensions.

APRIL 5, 2011 | Compilation by ANTONY DAVIES, LAURA VICINIE, JONATHAN SCOTT, KAIT WOLF, LAUREN MONDSCHEIN, DEVIN BOWEN, NATHAN BENEFIELD

Public Policy and Free Enterprise in Pennsylvania

A Compilation

Public Policy and Free Enterprise in Pennsylvania represents a partnership with the Commonwealth Foundation and the department of economics at Duquesne University.  Key findings in these five papers include

• Over the past sixty years, increases in union membership rates correlate with slower growth in real per-capita income growth slows, a decline in real imports, and no significant change in unemployment rates or real exports.
  
• The cost to taxpayers of a newly hired teacher—from age 22 through age 80 starting at the baseline salary of $40,800—will be $13 million
• The average settlement and award in states and years with joint and several liability reforms is $275,000 versus more than $350,000 for states and years with no reform.
• The data between gaming and unemployment rates is ambiguous, but per-capita income is significantly higher in gaming states than in non-gaming states.
• In Pennsylvania, employment is higher during times of greater trade. Average incomes are also higher during periods of greater trade.

JANUARY 17, 2011 | Policy Report by COMMONWEALTH FOUNDATION

80 Ideas for a Prosperous Pennsylvania

A Blueprint for Transforming the Commonwealth

Pennsylvania must undergo a rapid transformation to reverse the poor policy decisions that have eroded economic freedoms and brought the state to its present condition.  To provide a roadmap for success in this critical endeavor, the Commonwealth Foundation has compiled a list of 80 policy recommendations for Gov. Corbett and state legislators to help lead a Pennsylvania comeback.  Each of these recommendations links to Commonwealth Foundation research with more information on each issue.  Collectively, these recommendations represent a "A Blueprint for Transforming the Commonwealth," which can be found at CommonwealthFoundation.org/BluePrint.