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PA Budget: School-funding court case is the elephant in the room

Of the $1.4 billion that PA House Democrats added to Gov. Shapiro’s $44.4 billion budget when they advanced their own spending plan to the Senate, some $900 million would go to schools. That’s in addition to the $1 billion bump Shapiro proposed to overall state education funding, which currently amounts to almost $8 billion a year. Republicans, who control the Senate, acknowledge that the February Commonwealth Court mandate for a more equal distribution of state school funding will require legislative action. But they’ll take their more modest proposals, which include focus on school choice into the negotiations with Shapiro that will shape the final budget.

Countdown to June 30: Both the Senate and the House will be in session next week. Look for a budget-related House vote on tax credits for aspiring nurses, teachers and police officers, as well a minimum-wage hike. But the real budget action will take place off the floor.

AP photo / Matt Rourke

PA municipal and county governments: A “labyrinth of local layers”

When Pennsylvanians go to the polls this November, most of the names on their ballots won’t be as recognizable as the state and federal candidates they’ll see in 2024, but the winners will affect voters’ daily lives more directly: They’ll be the officials responsible for streets and sanitation, zoning and development, and public safety, among other essential services. These officials have different titles and responsibilities, depending on whether they serve in one of the state’s 56 cities, 956 boroughs, 93 first-class townships, 1,454 second-class townships or its one town (Bloomsburg, in Columbia County). There are also 500 school districts and 67 counties, each of which has a governmental body that runs elections, manages the courts and jails, and provides human services. City & State PA breaks down this “labyrinth of local layers.”

Focus on running government: “More often than not at the local level, our local officials tend to check their politics at the door – and focus more on implementing services and those sorts of things,” said Lisa Schaefer, who advocates on behalf of the 67 county governments. “When you’re interacting with the county, you’re not hearing about the politics behind things a lot.” This has become harder in recent years, especially around schools and elections, but trust in local government has remained higher than the state and federal levels, at least for now.

Get into the weeds: The state’s Department for Community and Economic Development produces a detailed Citizen’s Guide to Pennsylvania Local Government.

Monday is Juneteenth, the day when enslaved Black Americans learned they were in free in June 1865, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. The holiday didn't become federally recognized until 2021. To accelerate the country's reckoning with slavery and its aftermath, a growing number of local governments have been taking action to study the history, the impacts and what should be done to make amends. Philadelphia City Council is primed to join this movement, having introduced a resolution Thursday to create a task force on reparations.

“​​When we discuss implementing solutions that get at the root of problems like poverty and gentrification, reparations has to be a part of that conversation,” said Councilmember Jamie Gauthier. “They are what communities of color, and especially our Black community, are owed.”

Less news is bad news for democracy: Axios reports that media job cuts so far this year are the highest on record. An ad-revenue slowdown is a major driver of the cuts, and tech companies—not media outlets–are collecting most of the dollars. (Chart: Axios Visuals)

Mayoral postmortem: Preference, not turnout, was decisive. The Sixty-six Wards blog determined that overall voter turnout (32%) was less important in determining Cherelle Parker’s victory in the Democratic mayoral primary than the preferences of the voters who did turn out.

Play nicely: The PA House Bipartisan Caucus unveiled its Meet in the Middle agenda at a Tuesday press conference. And the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute announced the formation of a nonpartisan Center on Public Civility, to be headed by Fred Ryan, who’s resigning as publisher of The Washington Post.

A freer hand to draw lines: In a PA Capital-Star interview, Widener University law professor Michael Dimino explores how the Supreme Court’s Alabama redistricting decision could affect Pennsylvania: “It gives mapmakers a little more freedom to purposely create majority-minority districts.”

What if everybody had to vote? The Philadelphia Citizen explores the pros and cons of mandatory voting as a way to increase Philly’s often-anemic turnout. “I prefer carrots to sticks,” C70 CEO Lauren Cristella told the Citizen, “like making it easier to vote; making it part of the culture; making it fun and bringing joy to it.”

What Does It Take to Build a Culture of Performance in City Government?

Fri., June 23, 11 AM-12 Noon

Zoom

Join The Pew Charitable Trusts’ Philadelphia Research and Policy Initiative (PRPI) and C70 for a virtual panel discussion among national practitioners exploring how performance management can be relevant, sustainable, and impactful for local government. Panelists include former Kansas City mayor Sly James; Stefanie Costa Leabo, Boston’s chief data officer; and Megan Williams, director of Denver Peak Academy. Anjali Chainani, founder and principal, Anavi Strategies, is the moderator. Register.

One-Day Law School for Journalists 2023

July 18, 9:30-3:30 PM

Zoom

Pennsylvanians for Modern Courts' One-Day Law School for Journalists is an intensive program designed to support journalists and others in the media who face the challenge of reporting on the court system without a law degree. While this program was designed for those in the media, all are welcome to attend. Register.

Seventy's membership program broadens, diversifies, and expands our community of champions of local democracy. Become a member and receive notification about Event signups, Annual Membership Impact Reports, C70 swag and Invitations to members-only experiences and receptions.