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.”

CLEAR Coalition Urges Lawmakers to Reject Pension Proposals

Leaders of the CLEAR Coalition are urging lawmakers to reject the last-minute reckless push to pass Senate Bill 1071, so-called pension reform legislation in the closing hours of the legislative session.