Third and State

Some states have developed effective policies to address the challenges faced by some seniors and working families in paying their property taxes. What can Pennsylvania learn from them?

Watch the Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center's latest webinar for a closer look at proven strategies to provide property tax relief to those who most need it — while protecting critical investments in public education. Get more resources from the webinar, including a PDF of the presentation.

Meg Wiehe, State Tax Policy Director for the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP), and Frank Mauro, Executive Director of the Fiscal Policy Institute in New York, joined PBPC Research Director Michael Wood to highlight property tax relief plans that work.

In recent weeks, we blogged about how business tax cuts have dragged down revenue growth this year and will continue to do so in future budgets. We also wrote about the dangers of a Pennsylvania telephone deregulation bill, the impact of a cut to federal food assistance, how the 50 states stack up when it comes to employer-sponsored health insurance, transportation funding, Marcellus Shale-related employment, and more.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT AT THIRD AND STATE:

• On state budget and taxes, Michael Wood wrote in the latest revenue tracker that General Fund collections are not keeping pace with the slowly growing economy, and much of this can be traced to corporate tax cuts. He also wrote about the Independent Fiscal Office's budget outlook predicting slow revenue growth in the next five years, another product of business tax cuts.
• On utilities and regulation, Steve Herzenberg blogged about a new Keystone Research Center report finding that a telephone deregulation bill in the state House will hurt rural broadband access and increase phone rates for consumers.
• On the federal nutrition assistance, Chris Lilienthal shared an interactive map of Pennsylvania showing that a $183 million cut to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will impact families and children in every county.
• On health care, Chris Lilienthal shared an interactive map of the United States showing how the 50 states stack up when it comes to employer-sponsored health insurance. With the nation’s employer-based health insurance system fraying rapidly in the past decade, the findings highlight just how important the Affordable Care Act is to many Americans.
• On transportation funding, Sharon Ward highlighted her testimony before a House committee on how Pennsylvania could significantly increase its long-term investment in roads, bridges, and public transit with a mix of cash and debt financing.
• On the Marcellus Shale, Mark Price shared an article setting the record straight about drilling-related employment claims made by Governor Tom Corbett's re-election campaign.
• Finally, we shared the Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center's latest webinar on the Governor's Healthy PA plan, Medicaid expansion, and the Health Insurance Marketplace.

LATEST FROM KEYSTONE RESEARCH CENTER (KRC):

• Upcoming Event: Join KRC Reception in Pittsburgh on November 20
• Report: A Bad Deal for Pennsylvania: Raising Phone Rates and Putting Telephone Service at Risk
• Press Release: Deregulation Bill Will Hurt Rural Broadband Access, Hike Phone Rates

KRC OP-EDS:

• Patriot-News: Cash Balance Plans Threaten Retirement Security
• Scranton Times-Tribune: Pension Solution Elusive

KRC IN THE NEWS:

• Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Phone Changes Decried: Higher Landline Bills, Reduction in Service
• WESA-FM: Phone Deregulation Bill Would Hurt Rural Broadband Access
• Delaware County Daily Times: Fix Pension Problem to Save Workers, Economy

LATEST FROM PENNSYLVANIA BUDGET AND POLICY CENTER (PBPC):

• Upcoming Webinar: Proven Property Tax Relief Strategies for Pennsylvania
• Takeaways from IFO Outlook: Business Tax Cuts Slow PA Revenue Growth Creating Future Budget Gaps
• Press Release: Use Mix of Cash and Debt Financing to Fund PA Transportation Projects
• Interactive Map: Cut to Federal Nutrition Assistance Impacts Families and Children in Every PA County
• Revenue Tracker: Collections Exceed Estimate But Corporate Tax Cuts Slowing Year-Over-Year Growth
  

PBPC IN THE NEWS:

• Central Penn Business Journal: Capital Stock and Franchise Tax Could Be Key to Transportation Funding
• Reading Eagle Letter to Editor: Property Tax Elimination Bill Would Hurt Education
• Bucks County Courier Times: Food Stamp Cuts Hit 1.8M Pennsylvanians

In recent weeks, we blogged about the jobs impact of raising the state's minimum wage, Ohio moving forward with the Medicaid expansion, industry claims about Marcellus Shale job growth in Pennsylvania, the problem with "one-size-fits-all" business rankings, what's at stake for schools in property tax elimination proposals, and more.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT AT THIRD AND STATE:

• On the minimum wage, Steve Herzenberg wrote about the positive economic impacts of raising the minimum wage and a 2010 study that found "no adverse employment effects" from minimum wage increases in multiple states.
• On health care, Chris Lilienthal blogged about Ohio moving forward with the expansion of Medicaid health coverage under the Affordable Care Act and that Pennsylvania should do the same.
  
• On the Marcellus Shale and the economy, Steve Herzenberg broke down the latest industry claims about the impact shale drilling has had on Pennsylvania job growth.
• On state tax issues, Michael Wood shared a recent news analysis that concluded "one-size-fits-all" business rankings, like those done by the Tax Foundation, are not put together with the states' best interests in mind.
• On higher education, Steve Herzenberg outlined how we can avoid a future in which a majority of higher education faculty earn less than a quality wage.
• Finally, Chris Lilienthal share this whiteboard video explaining that the future of Pennsylvania schools — and the quality of education every child receives — is at stake in the debate over a property tax elimination proposal.
  
  

LATEST FROM PENNSYLVANIA BUDGET AND POLICY CENTER (PBPC):

• Webinar: Healthy PA, Medicaid Expansion, and the Health Insurance Marketplace
• Webinar: What’s At Stake for PA Schools in Property Tax Proposals
• Press Release: Funding Cut to Nutrition Assistance Impacts Over a Million Pa. Children, Seniors, People With Disabilities

PBPC IN THE NEWS:

• Erie Times-News: Food Stamp Cuts Affect Thousands in Erie County
• Philadelphia City Paper: Can You Feed Your Family for $1.40 a Meal?
• Pittsburgh City Paper: Pittsburghers Call for Medicaid Expansion

LATEST FROM KEYSTONE RESEARCH CENTER:

• KRC Pension Primer: Cash Balance Plan Could Hurt Public Employees and Taxpayers
• Learn More: KRC's Public Pension Resource Page

KRC IN THE NEWS:

• PCN Call-In Program: Steve Herzenberg Debates Raising the Minimum Wage
• Philadelphia Weekly: What’s Behind the Move to Block Paid Sick Days for Philly’s Working Class?

In recent weeks, we blogged about what's at stake for Pennsylvania schools in the debate over property taxes in Harrisburg, the call for an education funding formula, the value of economy-boosting jobs, and details of the Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center's fall webinar series.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT AT THIRD AND STATE:

• On property taxes, Michael Wood wrote about an analysis from the Independent Fiscal Office finding that a proposal to eliminate property taxes would leave school districts with $2.6 billion less in overall funding within five years. Mike also wrote about some funding uncertainty surrounding the property tax proposal.
• On unions and the economy, Steve Herzenberg shared a recent radio interview in which he made the case that when unions are strong, the economy is strong.
• On education funding, Chris Lilienthal highlighted a recent symposium on school funding where experts discussed the impact of nearly a billion dollars in state funding cuts to schools two years ago and the need for an education funding formula.
• On the economy, Chris Lilienthal shared a video from Topos Partnerships showing the value of economy-boosting jobs — jobs that pay workers enough to maintain the basic spending levels that keep the economy and our communities going.
• Finally, we announced the Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center's fall webinar series lineup, including presentations on property taxes, the Affordable Care Act, Marcellus Shale jobs, and what we can do to restore needed education funding.

LATEST FROM PENNSYLVANIA BUDGET AND POLICY CENTER:

• PBPC Webinar: What’s At Stake for PA Schools in Property Tax Proposals
• PBPC Revenue Tracker: State Collections on Target Through First Quarter of 2013-14
• WGAL News 8: Lawmakers Review Push to Lower Property Tax Bill
• Philadelphia Inquirer: At Symposium, a Call for State Education Funding Formula
• Scranton Times-Tribune: Property Tax Replacement Revenue Falls Short
• PA Independent: Analysis Says Property Tax Elimination Comes Up Short

LATEST FROM KEYSTONE RESEARCH CENTER:

• WESA's Essential Pittsburgh: Steve Herzenberg on Economic Growth and Unions
• Public News Service: WA's "Pay It Forward" Tuition-Free Plan Gains National Audience
• WITF's Radio Smart Talk: Mark Price on Shutdown's Impact on PA Economy
• Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Government Shutdown Hurts Secondary Businesses
• PCN Call-In Show: Mark Price on Economic Impact of Natural Gas Drilling
• KRC Pension Primer: Cash Balance Plan Could Hurt Public Employees and Taxpayers