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.

December 13, 2011 | Policy Points by COMMONWEALTH FOUNDATION

Charter School Reform

Pennsylvania charter school enrollment grew from 982 students in 1997 to 91,000 in 2010, as more parents exercised choice in their children's education. On average, charter schools receive and spend only about 83 percent of what school districts spend for each student. Allowing alternative charter school authorizers would increase opportunities for new and innovative charter schools.

December 13, 2011 | Policy Points by COMMONWEALTH FOUNDATION

The Cost of Pennsylvania's Education Failures

Lawmakers are considering providing school choice to low-income children trapped in violent and failing schools. While some lawmakers are concerned about the cost of school vouchers, the cost of educational failure for all taxpayers through welfare, corrections, and lost jobs is many times greater.

October 28, 2011 | Policy Points by COMMONWEALTH FOUNDATION

Marcellus Shale Impact Fee

Principles and Facts on Taxing Natural Gas

Companies should pay for the cost of government they use.  Many advocates of a new tax simply want more money for Harrisburg politicians to dole out.

October 27, 2011 | Policy Points by COMMONWEALTH FOUNDATION

Pennsylvania's Government Unions

Pennsylvania is a forced union state, meaning that workers can be forced to join a union or pay a "fair share fee" just to keep their job.  Most government units in Pennsylvania are "agency shops," with a specified union to which workers must pay a fee. When state and local governments automatically deduct dues and fair share fees from government workers' paychecks—as is the practice in Pennsylvania—employees have little or no say in how their money is used.

October 18, 2011 | Policy Points by COMMONWEALTH FOUNDATION

Pennsylvania's Failing, Violent Schools

Nearly 82,000 children are enrolled in the 141 public schools with available data on violence in Pennsylvania's lowest-performing 5 percent on student proficiency. These schools reported more than 4,500 violent incidents in the 2009-10 school year alone.

October 10, 2011 | Policy Points by COMMONWEALTH FOUNDATION

Charter School Funding in Pennsylvania

Many school districts and other advocates complain about the charter school funding mechanism, arguing that it "drains funding" from school districts.  This charge must be considered in the context of charter school funding.

October 7, 2011 | Policy Points by COMMONWEALTH FOUNDATION

Liquor Privatization (House Bill 11)

Summary and Recommendations

The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board serves as the monopolistic seller of wine and spirits in the commonwealth. Rep. Mike Turzai introduced House Bill 11 to sell off the PLCB's retail stores, wholesale and distribution operations, current inventory of wine and spirits, and redefine the PLCB as the licenser and regulator of private retailers and distributors.

September 1, 2011 | Policy Points by COMMONWEALTH FOUNDATION

The Failure of Government-run Liquor Stores

The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) is the exclusive wholesaler and retailer of wine and spirits in the commonwealth.  A current proposal would get the government out of the business of selling alcohol, allowing the state to concentrate on its enforcement role, permitting private stores to sell wine and liquor and allowing consumers to choose brands for themselves.

June 30, 2011 | Policy Points by COMMONWEALTH FOUNDATION

General Fund Spending in Budget Deal

The FY 2011-12 budget deal includes $27.1 billion in General Fund spending, as part of the state's approximately $64 billion total operating budget. The deal represents a reduction of $3 billion from FY 2010-11—the first reduction in the operating budget in at least 40 years. This budget restores overall spending to pre-stimulus levels and includes no new taxes.