Pennlive.com posts an op-ed by David Fillman, Executive Director of AFSCME Council 13 and a CLEAR co-founder, who writes, “Lawmakers and the Wolf administration need to focus on genuine government reforms that generate sustainable savings and protect vital services for Pennsylvanians – not one-time, illusory ones. We joined the CLEAR Coalition and identified more than $2 […]
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Pa. budget shortfall grows to $600M: What does it mean for you?
PennLive.com reports, “Pennsylvania faces a $600 million-plus budget shortfall that it will have to grapple with in the year ahead, according to the Wolf administration estimates.”
State Budget Impasse, Funding Woes are Driving Up County Real Estate Taxes
The Philadelphia Inquirer reports, “Hundreds of thousands of property owners in the region stand to pay more in real estate taxes in 2017, as counties across Pennsylvania continue to grapple with the rising cost of services – and continued fallout from last year’s state budget impasse.” The report adds, “Counties are facing increased pressures to fund services – particularly human services, said Lisa Schaefer, director of government relations at the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania. Higher demand has combined with lingering effects from the 2015-16 budget impasse.”
Pennsylvania’s budget hole is getting incrementally deeper
Pennlive.com reports, “Following a trend that’s persisted for much of the year, Pennsylvania’s November revenue collections ran 3.8 percent behind budget estimates. In all, the state pulled in $2 billion which, in real terms, meant it fell $79.5 million behind anticipated revenue.
Will report of growing Pa. budget deficit revive fight over new taxes?
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports, “A report released by the nonpartisan Independent Fiscal Office said the state was on track to fall more than $500 million short of what it needs to make it through this fiscal year, and that the deficit could grow to $1.7 billion in the next fiscal year if current policies remain in place.”