Education
2024–25 State Budget Analysis
Key Points Pennsylvania’s $47.6 billion 2024–25 budget creates a $3.6 billion structural deficit. This will exhaust General Fund reserves, which will require draining from the Rainy Day fund—illegally—or raising taxes…
Read More: 2024–25 State Budget AnalysisPennsylvania’s complex state budget has enabled policymakers to keep taxpayers in the dark when it comes to state spending. Year after year, some elected officials use budget gimmicks to both make the budget appear balanced and to secure their own agendas. Pennsylvanians deserve reforms that bring true transparency to the budgeting process. We must limit spending growth to a sustainable rate, ensuring the state government—like hardworking taxpayers—live within its means.
2024 state budget resources
State Budget
Tax Hike Redux? History Says Wolf’s Budget Address Could Cost You
In his first three budget addresses, Gov. Wolf proposed massive tax increases of $4.7 billion, $2.7 billion, and $1 billion. Will Wolf stick to his tax-and-spend budget formula and propose…
Press Release
Read More: Tax Hike Redux? History Says Wolf’s Budget Address Could Cost YouState Budget
More Money Coming to a Wallet Near You?
Pennsylvania's tax burden on individuals and the businesses that employ them is far from a warm welcome to the Keystone State. Earlier this month, a House appropriations subcommittee hosted…
Media
Read More: More Money Coming to a Wallet Near You?State Budget
Five Taxpayer Protection Act Facts Every Pennsylvanian Should Know
House Bill 110, also known as the Taxpayer Protection Act (TPA), would amend Pennsylvania’s constitution to limit spending increases to the combined rate of inflation and population growth over a…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Five Taxpayer Protection Act Facts Every Pennsylvanian Should KnowGovernment Accountability
Restoring State Budget Transparency
A House appropriations subcommittee hosted a hearing last week on Pennsylvania’s tax structure and fiscal policy. One of the issues highlighted – Pennsylvania’s lack of state budget transparency. Robert P.
Media
Read More: Restoring State Budget TransparencyCriminal Justice Reform
Criminal Justice Reforms Continue to Benefit Pennsylvanians
Pennsylvania’s bipartisan criminal justice efforts are continuing to pay dividends. According to statistics released by the Department of Corrections (DOC), the state’s prison population fell by 863 inmates—the…
Media
Read More: Criminal Justice Reforms Continue to Benefit PennsylvaniansRegulation
Public Employee Compensation Reaches $100k
This post was updated to reflect a change in private sector compensation. For the first time in Pennsylvania’s history, the average cost of a state employee exceeds $100,000, according…
Media
Read More: Public Employee Compensation Reaches $100kState Budget
Has the Wolf Administration Cured Pennsylvania’s Budget Ills?
Secretary of the Budget Randy Albright gave a surprisingly upbeat mid-year budget briefing yesterday. According to the state’s budget office, Pennsylvania’s structural deficit is virtually gone. Yet, reason…
Media
Read More: Has the Wolf Administration Cured Pennsylvania’s Budget Ills?State Budget
Moving Toward a Better Budget Process
Pennsylvania received a bit of good news from Fitch Ratings last week, as the agency affirmed the commonwealth’s credit rating. However, the state’s outlook remains negative. A downgrade is…
Media
Read More: Moving Toward a Better Budget ProcessGovernment Accountability
Overhauling Pennsylvania’s Budget Practices
Pennsylvania’s broken budget process hurts working Pennsylvanians. In the last two years, the state legislature passed spending packages, which Gov. Wolf allowed to become law without his signature, before authorizing…
Memo
Read More: Overhauling Pennsylvania’s Budget PracticesRegulation
Shocking Pensions a Reminder that we Need More Reform
The Philadelphia Inquirer recently published an article detailing the $100,000+ pension payouts for 500 retired state employees—a jarring reminder that Pennsylvania’s state retirement system…
Media
Read More: Shocking Pensions a Reminder that we Need More ReformState Budget
A Brief History of Tom Wolf’s Tax Hike Proposals
Since taking office, Gov. Tom Wolf has proposed or supported 10 tax hikes on working families. Lawmakers worked with Wolf to raise taxes in two of the past three years.
Memo
Read More: A Brief History of Tom Wolf’s Tax Hike ProposalsGovernment Accountability
A Step Towards Smarter Spending
The governor and state lawmakers are taking a step towards tackling our spending problem. On Tuesday a bicameral group of state lawmakers introduced a zero-based budgeting bill. This proposal would…
Media
Read More: A Step Towards Smarter SpendingState Budget
Promising Budget Reforms on the Horizon
Pennsylvania’s latest budget impasse exposed a dysfunctional state budget process. Several members of the House of Representatives have introduced a package of reforms to correct the myriad of problems contributing to…
Media
Read More: Promising Budget Reforms on the HorizonState Budget
PA’s Fiscal Predicament in 5 Charts
Pennsylvania is in poor financial shape and staring down a consequential demographic shift. Check out the 5 charts below for more on the challenges facing our state and the…
Media
Read More: PA’s Fiscal Predicament in 5 ChartsState Budget
New Budget Report Demands Urgent Action
By 2023, the state deficit could reach more than $2 billion. By 2030, Pennsylvania will have just 2.4 workers for every 1 person of retirement age. These were some of the most…
Media
Read More: New Budget Report Demands Urgent ActionRegulation
PLCB Borrowing Panned, Time to Privatize
There hasn’t been much to praise in this year’s budget battles. However, the governor’s announcement that he won’t try to borrow $1.25 billion against Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB)…
Media
Read More: PLCB Borrowing Panned, Time to PrivatizeState Budget
Pennsylvania’s Sin Tax Addiction
Pennsylvania’s excess of excise—or so-called “sin”—taxes was the subject of a recent story in The Philadelphia Inquirer. The piece focused on the amount working people pay in taxes on…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania’s Sin Tax AddictionState Budget
What’s on the November Ballot: Property Taxes and Judges
In addition to several statewide judicial races, the upcoming November election includes a ballot measure that could change the way Pennsylvanians pay taxes or make no difference at all. Judicial Races…
Media
Read More: What’s on the November Ballot: Property Taxes and JudgesRegulation
Progress and Setbacks in the 2017-18 Budget
Pennsylvania’s four-month budget battle is just about over, thanks to an assortment of targeted tax hikes and fee increases along with borrowing and one-time transfers. However, lawmakers and the governor…
Media
Read More: Progress and Setbacks in the 2017-18 BudgetState Budget
Debt Ahead, but Reform Is Coming, Too
The General Assembly is on the verge of authorizing HB 785, which could add more than $1.2 billion to the state’s debt load. The legislation would amend the Capital…
Media
Read More: Debt Ahead, but Reform Is Coming, TooState Budget
Gov. Wolf’s Borrowing Schemes Won’t Work
Gov. Wolf’s careless decision to overspend last year has played a significant role in this latest budget impasse. Frustrated with the pace of the process, the governor decided to…
Media
Read More: Gov. Wolf’s Borrowing Schemes Won’t Work