What can Philadelphia expect from a Republican Harrisburg?
An IOM editorial in the Daily News explores the potential impact of a Republican takeover of Harrisburg for Philadelphia:
What can Philadelphia expect from a Republican Harrisburg?
An IOM editorial in the Daily News explores the potential impact of a Republican takeover of Harrisburg for Philadelphia:
First, the good news. Unlike voters in Bulter, Allegheny and Greene counties, Philadelphia voters said that an indictment was an impediment to getting re-elected, and booted John Perzel out of office. (Sen. Jane Orie and Rep. Bill DeWeese, also under indictment in the Bonusgate scandal, were re-elected.)
Beyond that, Tuesday's election results - which elected a Republican governor, and tipped Pennsylvania to a Republican majority in the House and Senate - hold few silver linings for Philadelphia.
How bad could it be for the city?
Governor-elect Tom Corbett says he'll impose no new taxes to balance what will be a massive state budget deficit. That means one thing: big cuts to spending.
Local governments like Philadelphia's rely on state funds for everything from human services, public health, economic development, and dozens of other areas.
The city projects the state to provide $610 million in revenue in 2010 and $595 million in 2011. According to the Pennsylvania Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority (PICA), the city's revenues from other governments will account for 20.4 percent of the city's general fund this fiscal year. The key areas where cuts will be most likely be felt:
Social services: The biggest recipient of state aid is the Department of Human Services, which is charged with protecting Philadelphia children from abuse and neglect. A lion's share of the agency's $564.4 million budget comes from the state. Public health is another area where state funding is critical, and cuts could come to programs like behavioral health and prevention programs. One consequence: swelling prison populations.
Education: The state received $240 million in Title 1 education stimulus dollars; a third of that came to Philadelphia. With that stimulus money at an end, schools across the state must deal with the reductions in local share spending that the state made when the stimulus money arrived. The state's schools face budget tsunamis just to adjust from post-stimulus reality, even before new cuts are considered. The danger: increased spending made a positive difference in Philadelphia's test scores. If higher spending does mean better schools, it's not hard to figure out what lower spending means.
Transportation: SEPTA got about 40 percent of its capital dollars from the state this fiscal year ($124.1 million out of a total $303.7 million); a good chunk of that money came from bonds issued when the state was still planning to toll Interstate 80. With that plan dead, no more bonds will be issued, and SEPTA's capital funding falls off a cliff.
Among all these concrete concerns, there's one that's purely political. We're losing a homeboy as governor, but concerns about a new world order go beyond this city. While Ed Rendell did watch our back, more importantly, he had an understanding of how critical the state's big cities are in driving the economy. Southeastern Pennsylvania, for example, accounts for 40 percent of the state's economy. We don't know if Corbett has the same grasp. For example, agriculture was among the key issues identified on his campaign website. The state's cities were not.
Pushing the city's importance will be among the big challenges for the city's leaders. The myth of Philadelphia as a place of big problems, with its hand always outstretched for money, is no longer the reality, but in some quarters, it's still a firmly entrenched myth. Overcoming that may be as big a challenge as overcoming budget cuts.
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Taranis - don't let the facts get in the way of a good rant. "No one brings a convention there because of the union." They've already booked $2.5 billion in business for 2011 and beyond. It's geniuses like you that give us republicans. http://www.philly.com/inquirer/business/20100809_Pennsylvania_Convention_Center_on_schedule_for_March_opening.html.- Why would anyone outside the city borders want to have to pay extra taxes to fund septa, dhs, and corrupt Philly cronies?
It's a big state & there are other needs besides you leeches. The reason there is now a Repub in Harrisburg is the rest of us sent a message & apparently you don't like that message.
How about if Philly sets aside extra money and sends it to my township? It's always a one way street of us pouring state money into Philly to bail out your decades of democrat mismanagement.— Tapper - To all the weirdo's living in the strange land they call Philadelphia:
Man UP, Grow Up, be responsible for yourself and your kinfolk, and Get a real Job, Pay your taxes, support your Own who you Breed.
Live within your means (like the rest of us), and stop this fantasy thinking that the rest of the world owes you a living.
It is just an excuse of your lazy ignorant self.— truth B told 
Comment removed.- Can we have a little more PA love on here? Sure, budget cuts negatively impact Philadelphia and its surrounding counties, but throughout the state there are needs (schools, roads, and yes, social services) which will not be met as well as we'd all like because of the budget crunch.— Tedyuscung
- The Philly metro area brings more money directly and indirectly into the state coffers than the rest of the state combined. Pennsyltucky would be S.O.L. without such a major commercial hub to piggyback on, and the non-city folks should be a little more grateful that their meager contributions are overlooked.
How about we let every little town directly pay for state highway maintenance, state police, and all other state provided services from which they benefit? If your one horse town can't afford it, too bad, not our problem. Enjoy living on your island.— balitok - This dude look like a crook too. He should be about helping out the people in Pennsylvania which for you stupid folks includes PHILADELPHIA.— Jayjayhithard
- Comment removed.
