Uncategorized Archives - Page 7 of 31 - Allegheny Institute for Public Policy

Employment Slowdown Deepens

A recent Policy Brief (Volume 13, Number 16) noted that total private employment growth in the Pittsburgh region had cooled considerably. The twelve month rise from January 2012 to January 2013 was only one percent, representing about a 10,000 job increase, and a continuation of the slowing trend that began in the second half of 2012. Unfortunately, preliminary jobs figures for February 2013 (the latest reported) show the employment gains cooling still further.

Christopher Wendt April 15, 2013

Major Assessment Developments for Washington County

Two big developments regarding property reassessments have occurred in the last three weeks that will have a tremendous impact on Washington County. As we noted in our inaugural Brief of this year, the County has been in a court battle with two of its school districts since 2008 over conducting a revaluation of property, a task not carried out since 1981.

Christopher Wendt April 10, 2013

US Airways Taking the Area for Another Ride?

USAirways has entered into a merger agreement with American Airlines. If the merger passes regulatory muster-it has already received approval of American’s bankruptcy judge-the USAirways brand will disappear from the landscape and possibly most of the remnants of the once powerful airline’s presence in the Pittsburgh area-its birthplace.

Christopher Wendt April 3, 2013

Employment Growth in the Region Cools

The recently released January employment data for the Pittsburgh metropolitan statistical area (MSA) were not very encouraging. After a reasonably strong 2011 and first half of 2012, data from the region’s employers show quite a slowdown in job additions for the latter half of 2012 with 2013 starting off just as sluggish.

Christopher Wendt March 27, 2013

Is PAT a Burden on Taxpayers?

In a remarkably inept attempt to invalidate the State Senate Pro Tempore’s assertion that the Port Authority of Allegheny County (PAT) has been a long-time burden on taxpayers, an editorial writer says the Senator’s claim is a flawed premise and misses the significant role mass transit plays in a region like Pittsburgh.

Christopher Wendt March 21, 2013

Benchmarking Pittsburgh

City of Pittsburgh, know thyself. So goes the Socratic admonition. Here’s some information to help in the self-knowledge.

Christopher Wendt March 19, 2013

The Senator and the County Executive

In a dramatic announcement on March 8^th, the President Pro Tem of the Senate revealed his intention to introduce legislation that will restructure the Port Authority of Allegheny County (PAT). It is important to bear in mind that PAT was created decades ago by state legislation, and as such is a creature of the state and therefore can be restructured by legislation.

Christopher Wendt March 11, 2013

Big Tax Hike in the Eastern ‘Burbs

Taxpayers in Monroeville, a suburb in the eastern part of Allegheny County and one of the County’s largest communities with more than 28,000 residents, are seeing firsthand the change in post-reassessment tax policy established by Act 71, a law passed by the General Assembly in 2005.

Christopher Wendt March 5, 2013

Has the Rivers Casino Hit Its Stride?

Much rides on the success of the Rivers casino-a new hockey arena, community projects, and payments to the City of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County. In past Policy Briefs, we have documented the progress of the casino from its tumultuous start. In its first full year, 2010, we noted that revenues from slot machines fell very short of both the Gaming Board’s and the casino’s own projections. Then in 2011, after two full years of slots and one full year of table games, the casino posted stronger gains, although still short of the initial projections. This Brief looks at the casino’s performance in 2012 to see whether it has at long last achieved its original projections.

Christopher Wendt March 1, 2013

An Event to Honor Ron Morris

The Allegheny Institute and the Palumbo Donahue School of Business at Duquesne University cordially invite you to a dinner being held in memory of Ron

Christopher Wendt March 5, 2013

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