NEW FROM PBPC

August Revenues Come in $7 Million Above Estimate

September 1, 2010

Through the first two months of 2010-11, General Fund revenues are $6 million, or 0.2%, over estimate.

Details on $212 Million in 2010-11 Budget Cuts

September 1, 2010

The Rendell administration on Tuesday laid out where it plans to cut $212 million from the 2010-11 state budget. That, along with a projected $70 million in revenue from a yet-to-be-enacted Marcellus Shale gas severance tax, will bridge a revenue shortfall.

How to Structure a Severance Tax that is Fair to Pennsylvanians

August 30, 2010

As Pennsylvania lawmakers debate the contours of a severance tax on natural gas extracted from the Marcellus Shale formation, PBPC has put forth a series of recommendations, including assessing a reasonable tax rate, limiting loopholes and restoring local government's authority to assess property taxes on oil and gas interests.

New State Budget Cuts Proposed as FMAP Funding Falls Short

August 11, 2010

A day after Congress approved an extension of FMAP funds and an education jobs fund, Governor Ed Rendell announced more budget cuts are on the way in Pennsylvania.

Congress Passes Additional FMAP, Teacher Funding

August 10, 2010

The U.S. House of Representatives voted 247-161 on Tuesday to provide $26 billion in additional federal assistance to the states. For Pennsylvania, that means $600 million in additional FMAP funds and $388 million in funding to keep teachers in the classroom.

Recent Research and Analysis

Missed Opportunities: An analysis of the enacted 2010-11 budget.

Just the Facts on Combined Reporting: Combined reporting would close corporate tax loopholes.

Other Tobacco Products Tax: Nearly every state taxes cigars and smokeless tobacco, but not Pennsylvania.

A Closer Look at Revenue Measures: Fact sheets on proposals to enact an excise tax on cigars and smokeless tobacco, enact a severance tax on natural gas drilling in the Marcellus Shale, close corporate tax loopholes by enacting combined reporting, and end the sales tax vendor discount program.