Happy Labor Day weekend! Here's Commonwealth Foundation's weekly news roundup of policy issues being debated in Harrisburg and across Pennsylvania.
Back to School—With Billions in the Bank
As Pennsylvania kids head back to school, many classrooms will look the same: crowded hallways, aging buildings, and parents hearing the familiar trope that schools “don’t have enough money.”
But many school districts exaggerate their claims of being “underfunded.” According to state data, Pennsylvania school districts are sitting on more than $13 billion in reserve funds—money they’ve saved up instead of spending on students.
SEPTA, Shapiro, and House Dems Own This Budget Stalemate
The Pennsylvania budget is, once again, late. Budget negotiations have come to a standstill over one issue: bailing out the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA).
So, who is derailing negotiations? Who is to blame for this political stalemate? Unfortunately, we have several culprits.
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