June 29, 2010 | Policy Points by COMMONWEALTH FOUNDATION

Pennsylvania Budget Facts 2010: Corporate Taxes

The Commonwealth has the second highest state corporate income tax (behind Iowa, which has more generous deductions and exemptions).  When compounding state and federal corporate taxes, Pennsylvania's corporate income tax rate is higher than that of every other country.

June 29, 2010 | Policy Points by COMMONWEALTH FOUNDATION

Pennsylvania Education Spending

Pennsylvania's education spending increased from $4 billion in 1980 to over $25 billion in 2009-a 133% increase in per-pupil spending, after adjusting for inflation. School construction and debt spending has doubled in just 10 years.  Prevailing wage laws increase the cost of construction by 20% or more; repealing this mandate would save $400 million.

June 2, 2010 | Policy Points by COMMONWEALTH FOUNDATION

Pennsylvania Budget Facts 2010: Tobacco Taxes

Gov. Rendell proposed a tax of 30% on the retail price of cigars and smokeless tobacco products, in hopes of collecting $42 million in the upcoming fiscal year.

June 2, 2010 | Policy Points by COMMONWEALTH FOUNDATION

Pennsylvania State Budget Resources

Pennsylvania faces a projected General Fund tax revenue shortfall of at least $1 billion.  Governor Rendell proposed a $29 billion General Fund budget for 2010-11 that increases businesses taxes, imposes new taxes on natural gas and tobacco products, and expands the sales tax to many goods and services currently exempt. Below are resources on the Pennsylvania state budget.

June 2, 2010 | Policy Points by COMMONWEALTH FOUNDATION

Pennsylvania Budget Facts 2010: Unemployment Compensation

Pennsylvania has borrowed over $3 billion from the federal government to keep its unemployment compensation fund solvent. Only California, with three times the population and a much higher unemployment rate, pays out more in unemployment claims.

May 11, 2010 | Policy Points by COMMONWEALTH FOUNDATION

Public vs. Private Employment & Pay

Pennsylvania's private sector lost 113,600 jobs while state and local governments added 40,200 positions between 2000 and 2009, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. At the same time, public-sector wages exceed those for comparable positions in the private sector.

May 11, 2010 | Policy Points by COMMONWEALTH FOUNDATION

Pennsylvania State & Local Taxpayer Debt

Gov. Ed Rendell frequently argues that Pennsylvania taxpayers can afford to incur more state debt.  However, in order to justify the borrowing of billions of dollars, the governor conveniently ignores the debt burden placed on taxpayers by all levels of state and local government.

Today, Pennsylvanians owe $120 billion in state and local government debt.  This equates to over $9,600 for every person, and over $38,400 for the average family of four in the Commonwealth.

May 3, 2010 | Policy Points by COMMONWEALTH FOUNDATION

Pennsylvania Deficit Watch: May 2010

With April collections in the book, the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue reports that state General Fund revenues are $1.1 billion below estimate for the 2009-10 fiscal year.

May 3, 2010 | Policy Points by COMMONWEALTH FOUNDATION

Transportation Special Session Survival Guide

Gov. Rendell has called a special session of the Pennsylvania General Assembly to discuss transportation funding. Here are some resources on financing and managing Pennsylvania's transportation infrastructure.

April 7, 2010 | Policy Points by COMMONWEALTH FOUNDATION

PA Budget Facts 2010: Pennsylvania Sales Tax Expansion

Gov. Rendell has proposed lowering Pennsylvania's Sales & Use Tax from 6% to 4% and expanding the tax to 74 goods and services currently not taxed. This is the fourth in a series of fact sheets on the state budget.