Defending the Pittsburgh area taxpayers and businesses against the burdensome taxation and regulation of Big Government

Mission Statement

The Allegheny Institute is a non-profit research and education organization. Our mission is to defend the interests of taxpayers, citizens and businesses against an increasingly burdensome and intrusive government. To that end, we will formulate and advocate public policies that roll back the size and scope of local government as well as create a more accountable government. Our efforts will be guided by the principles of free enterprise, property rights, civil society and individual freedom that are the bedrock upon which this nation was founded.
Stupid is as stupid does: Welcome to the news that the Biden administration is opposing Nippon Steel’s proposed acquisition of U.S. Steel. “It is important that we maintain strong American steel companies powered by American steel workers,” the president said on Thursday. But the real issue is not “national security,”...

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Accomplishments

Policy Briefs

vol24
No: 11

The proposed fiscal year (FY) 2024-25 state budget would increase funding for public transit agencies in Pennsylvania, including Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT).  This is the wrong approach given PRT’s costs relative to peer transit agencies and where ridership stands compared to pre-pandemic numbers.

vol24
No: 10

 

Several previous Policy Briefs have illustrated the fallacy that extraordinarily high levels of per student revenue and spending are correlated with high levels of student academic achievement. In most Pennsylvania districts very high levels of revenue per ADM ($30,000 or higher from local, state and federal sources) are associated with poor or relatively poor academic achievement. In a few exceptions, districts with over $30,000 per student revenue that post relatively strong achievement raise the bulk of their funding—over $20,000 from local sources— are wealthier districts with large tax bases.

Colin Mcnickle At Large

Op-Ed

PRT not worthy of proposed funding increase

vol24
No: 11

Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT) would be in line for millions of new dollars in state funding in Gov. Josh Shapiro’s proposed fiscal 2024-25 budget, about $40 million by one estimate.

The manifest danger in Shapiro’s budget

vol24
No: 09

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro proposed spending tens of millions of dollars in commonwealth reserves during this year’s budget address. He wants to disburse the dollars to bolster spending on everything from economic development efforts, to public transit and public education, the courts forcing his hand on the latter.

In The News

Allegheny County population continues to shrink, new Census data shows
For the second year in a row, Allegheny County experienced one of the nation’s sharpest decreases in population, continuing an overall decline in Western Pennsylvania that poses risks to the...
School Spending
Jake Haulk, the President Emeritus/Senior Advisor at Allegheny Institute for Public Policy joins Marty and Paul to discuss failing Pittsburgh schools and how they are spending too much money.
Downtown tax appeals
Frank Gamrat, Executive Director at Allegheny Institute of Public Policy, joins Larry and Marty to discuss the vacant buildings in Pittsburgh and the tax appeals downtown.

Blog

Westmoreland County Finances

ByAllegheny Institute |

Looking Ahead to 2024

ByAllegheny Institute |

Pittsburgh Public Schools 2024 Prelim Budget

ByAllegheny Institute |

Pittsburgh MSA Job Data and PIT Flight Data

ByAllegheny Institute |

Recommendations for Next Chief Executive

ByAllegheny Institute |

AMTRAK Agreement

ByAllegheny Institute |