Releases

This report provides revenue estimates for the tax proposals contained in the 2016-17 Executive Budget released February 2016. The Independent Fiscal Office (IFO) publishes this report to fulfill its statutory duties as provided under 71 Pa.C.S. § 4104. The act requires that the IFO “provide an analysis, including economic impact, of all tax and revenue proposals submitted by the Governor or the Office of the Budget.”

The report contains two sections. The first section analyzes the various tax proposals included in the 2016-17 Executive Budget and the corresponding impact on General Fund tax revenues over a five-year period. The specific proposals include brief descriptions of the data sources and methodologies used to derive the revenue estimates. Certain proposals also provide interstate comparisons of effective or statutory tax rates under current and proposed tax law.

The second section analyzes the proposal to increase the state minimum wage from $7.25 to $10.15 per hour. It discusses potential employment effects, income effects and the implications for General Fund revenues.

At the time of publication, technical language was not available to inform the revenue estimates of the proposals included in the budget. The explanations and descriptions contained in this report are based on descriptions from the 2016-17 Executive Budget and presentations made by executive branch officials. The analysis assumes that none of the proposals impact the current fiscal year, and most become effective July 1, 2016.