Briefly describes the decline of both agricultural and industrial activities in Clarion County, the impact on the area's economy, and the creation of a financing plan for the industrialization of Pennsylvania. (CLB)

In this article, the author discusses the "faith-based" initiative, unveiled by President George W. Bush after taking office in 2001, that restricts hiring of federally funded religious groups to members of their own faith. In Bradford County, the new "faith-based" approach translated into a contract diverting a combination of…

Noting that a state's tax policies have direct impact on a family's ability to feed, clothe, house, educate, and care for its children, this report presents an overview of taxes in the state of Pennsylvania. The report is presented in five sections. Section 1 presents the argument that it is necessary to understand the rule driving the revenue…

The Pennsylvania legislature is considering a school finance proposal, exemplified by House Bill 113 of the 2003 legislative session, that would shift some school funding away from local property taxes and toward state funds and local income taxes. The proposal would give greater proportional benefits to homeowners with lower property values. A…

PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEMS IN THE UNITED STATES HAVE BEEN ORGANIZED IN DIFFERENT WAYS, BOTH WITHIN THE STATES AND FROM STATE TO STATE. IN SOME CASES SCHOOL DISTRICT STRUCTURE IS COTERMINOUS WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL UNITS AND IS "DEPENDENT" ON THEM. HOWEVER, 78 PERCENT OF PUBLIC SCHOOL ENROLLMENTS ARE IN "INDEPENDENT" SCHOOL DISTRICTS…

Discussion of inequity in funding of Pennsylvania schools has tended to focus on differences between wealthy and poor school districts. In Pennsylvania, 180 school districts have filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the existing public school funding scheme. A study of the state's 500 school districts, grouped by market value of…

A description and analysis of two failed local finance reform efforts in Pennsylvania between 1987 and 1989--a blue ribbon tax reform commission and a state constitutional amendment--are presented in this report. Constraints imposed during the reform design stage and two political "tar pits"--household/business proportion of local taxes,…

Issues of concern to higher education in Pennsylvania and possible roles for the state government are addressed by a state senator. The difficulty of providing postsecondary education in view of reduced funds is noted. It is suggested that the expectation that adult students will help solve the problem of fewer traditional aged college students…

This report combines a theoretical study of state school aid programs with an empirical study of school districts' responses to such programs. The author's theoretical investigation of existing systems of general state aid to school districts suggests two propositions: school districts do not maximize an ordinary utility function in the light of…