School Reserve Funds in Pandemic Times

• Stefanie Mason
• February 26, 2021

Pennsylvania school officials are projecting local tax revenue losses for the upcoming year due to the wreckage from COVID-19 restrictions. Even if local tax revenue declines, most schools have…

Backgrounder

Education

Making the Most of Education Dollars

• James Paul
• August 11, 2016

Auditor General Eugene DePasquale recently uncovered $2.5 million improperly paid to nine public charter schools. At issue is whether buildings owned by charter schools are eligible for the state's lease…

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Education

School Districts Amass Record Reserve Funds

• James Paul
• June 15, 2016

Is your local school board planning to raise property taxes despite holding millions in reserve funds? For many Pennsylvania school districts, the answer may be “yes.”   Check out…

Media

Education

School Reserves Offer Pension Reform Opportunity

• Nathan Benefield
• August 18, 2014

Despite the rhetoric of “billions of dollars” in cuts from education, school districts across Pennsylvania have been able to increase their reserve funds. School districts had a combined reserve fund…

Media

Government Accountability

Best Legislative Session Ever?

• Nathan Benefield
• December 6, 2010

Jan Murphy of the Patriot-News notes that the 2009-10 Pennsylvania Legislative Session had the fewest new laws passed in 24 years. Since most pieces of legislation are a new…

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Education

Auditor General Hits the Wrong Target

• Nathan Benefield
• October 6, 2010

Here is a note I sent to Pennsylvania Auditor General Jack Wagner regarding his call for a moratorium on new charter schools until the funding mechanism is “fixed”:…

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Taxes & Economy

More Sparks Fly in PennFuture Scandal

• August 3, 2010

It’s been amusing to watch the defenders of PennFuture “fire” their pop-guns on the editorial pages of the Patriot-News since our report about their hypocritical and…

Media

Taxes & Economy

When Your Ideas Harm Taxpayers, Make Stuff Up

• Charles Mitchell
• July 22, 2010

The Patriot-News has been all over the Commonwealth Foundation’s recent report exposing the activities of PennFuture, the environmental lobbying group whose former president is in charge of Gov. Rendell’s Department…

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Taxes & Economy

The PennFuture Scandal: We’re Not Mudslinging

• Nathan Benefield
• July 22, 2010

Jan Murphy of the Patriot-News did a fine job in her Sunday article, giving an evenhanded account of our report on PennFuture’s lobbying, but the…

Media