That this southwestern Pennsylvania town's fire department is disseminating this study is, in itself, an example of the stress on local services provision. ...Read more

Given the decline in full time officers, communities and residents are at a higher risk and with limited resources, training, and investigative crime ― crime resolution is not at a high level. This study promotes regionalization of police forces to enhance coverage across all communities in Luzerne County. ...Read more

PEL report analyzed municipal revenue from 1970 through 2003, found a systemic decline in the fiscal health of communities statewide. ...Read more

There's one undeniable fact about local governments in Pennsylvania – there are a lot of them. Some say we should pay the most attention to what happens at the local government level, because decisions made there affect us the most. IssuesPA offers this primer on the many varieties of local governments, and how (and why) they’ve changed over the decades. ...Read more

What are the varied and myriad taxes collected by local governments? Try connecting the dots to draw a picture and the results would be... mind-boggling. ...Read more

What makes a community strong, vibrant and attractive as a place to live and work? This question is important because, in our global economy, companies and individuals today can locate almost anywhere. In 2006, community vitality may matter more than ever. ...Read more

Projected slow growth and an aging population – not exactly a recipe for a strong economic future in PA. What do the demographics and trends reveal? IssuesPA takes a closer look. ...Read more