Taxes & Economy

Pennsylvania’s Self-Inflicted Lobotomy

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • May 3, 2017

Every day, 36 college graduates flee Pennsylvania for better opportunities in other states, according to a new Independent Fiscal Office trends report. Overall, there was a net outflow of…

Media

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Government Accountability

Reviving the Push for Transparency

  • March 10, 2017

Taxpayers scored a victory last year with the passage of Senate Bill 644 (now Act 15). The new law requires the Independent Fiscal Office (IFO) to provide cost…

Media

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State Budget

Pennsylvania Deficit Watch: February 2017

  • February 2, 2017

Revenue collections underperformed again in January, according to the Department of Revenue. This is the third straight month—and the sixth of the last seven—in which revenue collections fell short of official…

Media

Read More: Pennsylvania Deficit Watch: February 2017

Regulation

Pennsylvania Deficit Watch: January 2017

  • January 4, 2017

Pennsylvania fell further into a financial hole during the month of December. According to the Department of Revenue, total General Fund collections came in $105.2 million below the state's official estimate. This marks…

Media

Read More: Pennsylvania Deficit Watch: January 2017

Regulation

A Turning Point in Pennsylvania?s Budget Debate?

  • December 14, 2016

Pennsylvania must confront a $604 million deficit, according to Budget Secretary Randy Albright. This sober assessment was offered during the mid-year budget briefing earlier today. The Independent Fiscal Office (IFO)…

Media

Read More: A Turning Point in Pennsylvania?s Budget Debate?

State Budget

Tracking State Budget Trends

  • December 2, 2016

The 2016-17 General Fund budget added to Pennsylvania’s fiscal challenges. Lawmakers approved the $31.6 billion budget without implementing meaningful reforms or authorizing enough revenue to balance the budget. Despite lacking…

Fact Sheet

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Regulation

Pennsylvania Deficit Watch: December 2016

  • December 2, 2016

State revenue collections came in at $79.5 million below the official estimate for November, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue. Lackluster collections wiped away the little progress made during October when revenue collections…

Media

Read More: Pennsylvania Deficit Watch: December 2016

Regulation

New IFO Report Emphasizes Need to Reform Spending

  • November 16, 2016

New IFO Report Emphasizes Need to Reform Spending State Faces up to $900 Million Budget Hole This Year November 16, 2016, Harrisburg, Pa.—Yesterday’s Independent Fiscal Office (IFO) mid-year…

Press Release

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Regulation

Pennsylvania Deficit Watch: November 2016

  • November 10, 2016

Last month we raised concerns about Pennsylvania's fiscal trajectory. At the time, state revenue collections were more than $218 million below the official estimate. The current revenue picture is slightly…

Media

Read More: Pennsylvania Deficit Watch: November 2016