PEL report analyzed municipal revenue from 1970 through 2003, found a systemic decline in the fiscal health of communities statewide.
This decline cuts across all types of municipalities, in rural, suburban and urban areas, and in all regions of the state. It already impacts more than half of Pennsylvanians where they live, and without new tools for community leaders, it’s only a matter of time for the rest of the state.
The Economy League study shows that municipalities are having an
increasingly difficult time providing the services that residents need and
expect, and that this fiscal distress is often inevitable under the laws that
apply to local governments.
The analysis identified several stages that municipalities follow toward fiscal
distress. While new development brings prosperity with low taxes, what often
follows is increasing demand for services, along with increasing tax rates and
service fees to fund them. Next comes reductions in non-core services, then reductions
in core services, and finally loss of tax base and distress as households begin
to "vote with their feet" by relocating, often to newer and more
prosperous areas.
Use the links below to download the full report, executive summary, and regional maps.
Pennsylvania Regions:
